Final answer:
The statement is false. Physical barriers in Europe are not seen as natural protection from potentially hostile neighbors nowadays.
Step-by-step explanation:
False
While physical barriers such as mountains, rivers, and deserts can provide some level of natural protection, it is incorrect to say that they are seen as a natural protection from potentially hostile neighbors in Europe nowadays. In the post-Cold War era, Europe has become more politically free and the European Union has played a stabilizing role. However, there have been wars in Eastern Europe and challenges within the EU itself.
Economic and political relationships are more integrated, blurring the lines of European identity and making traditional regions less relevant. Physical geographic features do influence political boundaries, but they are not solely seen as natural protection. Overall, the statement is false.