male friends

So my best friend lives abroad. He has since about 2017. He didn't come back for years due to covid and then came back for the first time last year in 2023. Last time would have been 2019. Last year he came back for 6 weeks and I met with him and had a decent time. Depression was hitting me hard...

My question comes as I am currently living in the U.S. and, based on experience, men who are friends (buddies, colleagues, etc.) rarely show affection to each other, especially physical touch. I am comparing it with other cultures where men do hugs a lot, kiss on the cheek, hold hands...