I was told years ago that the Swiss Embassy in the USA used only English for its internal meetings and other internal communications. That way, the usual antagonism between German-speakers and French-speakers is minimized. I can’t verify, but seems reasonable.
And I was told more recently by a young Spaniard that when you graduate from the university over there and go for a job interview, the first question the company will ask is likely to be, “In addition to English, which other languages do you speak?” That is, it’s simply ASSUMED that an educated young person in Europe can handle English.
Then when I was checking into various Russian hotels, the Italians and Africans and Japanese and other foreigners in line with me would almost always use English when they stepped up to the counter to register. Same experience at a Serbian hotel in Belgrade. Ditto in Beijing and Singapore.
In other words, any “battles” are over. English has already won the war to be THE international language, like it or not.
I’m Israeli and a native Hebrew speaker.
I don’t know any Israelis that are not fluent in English.
In fact, it’s kind of funny, people talk in Russian, French, even Yiddish among family (depending on Diaspora origin). When doing something official, political, religious-related, or simply in a store, Hebrew.
When talking business, English.
I just left a conversation (in Arizonia, mind you) where Hebrew, Yiddish, and English were spoken by each Israeli participant, with the break down being what I just above.
As was once true of Latin, and later French (the Russian aristocracy spoke French among themselves, and Russian to their serfs). I don't think, despite once widespread political power, Spanish ever had that position in Europe, nor German..although German "almost" became the language of science. When matriculating for a BS in chemistry, a German language elective was "strongly" suggested, although French could be substituted (this was in Louisiana).