Throughout history, there have been many political alliances that have surprised the world. These partnerships have had significant impactful and have even changed the course of world events. The surprising alliances include the US and Soviet Union during World War II, the US and Vietnam during the Vietnam War, and Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union during World War II. Others include the US and Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the US and Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War, the US and the Taliban during the Soviet-Afghan War, the US and China during the Cold War, Nazi Germany and Japan during World War II, and the US and Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War. Regardless of their short lifespan, these alliances have all had a tremendous impact on society.
10 Surprising Political Alliances That Shook the World
Over the course of history, there have been many surprising political alliances that have changed the course of the world. Here are ten of the most unexpected and game-changing political partnerships:
1. The US and Soviet Union during World War II
During World War II, the US and Soviet Union formed an alliance against Nazi Germany. This alliance was surprising because the US and Soviet Union had fundamentally different ideologies. The US was a capitalist democracy, while the Soviet Union was a communist state. Despite their differences, the shared goal of defeating Nazi Germany brought the two nations together.
2. The US and Vietnam during the Vietnam War
During the Vietnam War, the US was allied with the government of South Vietnam. However, the US also had a secret alliance with the communist government of North Vietnam. The US and North Vietnam worked together to secretly negotiate an end to the war, despite being officially at war with each other.
3. The US and Iran during the Cold War
During the Cold War, the US and Iran were allies. The US saw Iran as a bulwark against Soviet expansion in the Middle East. However, this alliance fell apart after the Iranian Revolution, which led to the rise of an Islamist government led by Ayatollah Khomeini.
4. Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union during World War II
During World War II, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union formed a non-aggression pact. This alliance was surprising because Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union were ideologically opposed. Nazi Germany was a fascist state, while the Soviet Union was a communist state. However, the shared desire to partition Poland brought the two nations together. This alliance fell apart when Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa.
5. The US and Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis
During the Cuban Missile Crisis, the US and Cuba were engaged in a tense standoff over the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba. However, behind the scenes, the US and Cuba were engaged in secret negotiations. The US promised not to invade Cuba, and Cuba promised to remove the Soviet missiles from the island.
6. The US and Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War
During the Iran-Iraq War, the US and Iraq were allies. The US saw Iraq as a bulwark against the spread of Iranian influence in the Middle East. The US provided Iraq with military and financial aid, including intelligence support. This alliance fell apart after Iraq invaded Kuwait, leading to the Gulf War.
7. The US and the Taliban during the Soviet-Afghan War
During the Soviet-Afghan War, the US provided support to the Afghan Mujahideen, a group of Islamist fighters who were fighting against the Soviet Union. Some of these fighters went on to become members of the Taliban, which the US later fought against in the War on Terror.
8. The US and China during the Cold War
During the Cold War, the US and China were bitter enemies. However, in 1971, President Nixon made a historic visit to China, paving the way for improved relations between the two countries. This alliance was surprising because China was a communist state, and the US had been engaged in a fierce ideological battle against communism for decades.
9. Nazi Germany and Japan during World War II
During World War II, Nazi Germany and Japan formed an alliance. This alliance was surprising because the two nations were from different continents and had little in common aside from their desire for territorial expansion. However, the shared goal of defeating the Allied Powers brought the two nations together.
10. The US and Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War
During the Gulf War, the US formed an alliance with Saudi Arabia. This alliance was surprising because Saudi Arabia is an Islamic monarchy with a rigid and conservative society, while the US is a secular democracy with a more liberal culture. However, the shared goal of removing Iraqi forces from Kuwait brought the two nations together.
Conclusion
These ten surprising political alliances show that sometimes, even bitter enemies can become temporary allies when it serves their interests. While some of these alliances were short-lived and ultimately fell apart, they all had a significant impact on the course of history.