What would you say the US's closest allies are?

[XemaSab]

[redgreenandblue]

1. Economically? China and Saudi Arabia?

[Spider Jerusalem]

2. The UK

in terms of both "closest" and "most important", at least. Not as important geostrategically perhaps as Israel, but sharing broadly similar geopolitical and economic goals and in terms of being the US ally with both the ability and willingness to commit significant military forces to joint operations.

[nanabugg]

3. The countries who do the least to hurt us. nt

[Scuba]

4. Well, if you're talking about doing good things for the American People, then...

Venezuela must be near the top.


http://alethonews.wordpress.com/2011/12/22/venezuela-provides-home-heating-assistance-to-400000-poor-americans/

[mathematic]

9. How can you tell?

Is there a list or summary of foreign corporations' charitable contributions in the US? I'm positive that UK corporations, for example, give more in the US than Citgo/PDVSA.

Also, considering the tax and other self-interested motivations for corporate giving, I don't consider it a good indication of how close an ally the corporation's country is.

[HooptieWagon]

5. Canada, UK, Germany, France, Japan, Australia

All countries whose support and friendship is unquestioned. Those are the larger ones, there are some smaller ones, too... New Zealand, Holland are a couple examples.

[loli phabay]

6. I would add Israel and Taiwan in there as well though its probuably more of neccesity.

[HooptieWagon]

8. I would not include Israel.

They operate out of their own self-interest, not out of love for the US. They operate a lobbying group ,AIPAC, whick UK,etc doesn't do. They operate spies here, the only recent spy rings uncovered were Russian and Israeli. Not to mention the deliberate bombardment of the USS Liberty, which they never owned up to .or apologized for.

[xchrom]

7. Indeed. Nt

[Sgent]

11. I would add

South Korea & Taiwan to that list.

Although I really think the UK is in a class by itself (with maybe Australia & Canada).

The UK & Australia were the only two who were in Iraq to the end.

[HooptieWagon]

12. Perhaps.

How I based my list was not biggest trading partners or mutual defense, but countries we have absolute mutual trust with. There is absolutely no questioning UK's friendship, no matter which party is in power. The reason I did't include Latin American countries like Colombia and Brazil, is that while US remains popular with the people, the official relationship varies a bit based on who's in power.

[JustAnotherGen]

14. I like the addition of

South Korea.

[JustAnotherGen]

13. I agree with your list

But I would put France in front of Great Britain at least. They shed blood to help give birth to us - in spite of our many many birth defects.

[HooptieWagon]

15. My list wasn't intended as being ranked.

That would be bloody difficult. Agree that France's friendhip with US goes back over 200 years. And while Japan's and Germany's friendship only dates since WW2, I don't think it's questioned now.

[Sgent]

19. Although

we have a long and historic relationship, France has always followed the diplomatic maxim that countries have interests, not enemies or friends.

They helped us to hurt the UK in the revolutionary war, and have been an ally, although a tepid one at times. They (and Germany) have done some things that have been real issues for us -- such as supplying nuclear precursor material (equipment) to Iran, vetoing us multiple times in the security council, etc.

They are certainly more an ally than neutral, but I wouldn't put them on the same level as the UK & Commonwealth countries, or even Japan, Israel, or S. Korea currently.

[JustAnotherGen]

23. Not really

That 'legend' came about as the result of a conversation between General/President DeGaulle - long before his second round of being President.

There were two things he said during the course of World War II - that as a foreign policy he was actually able to implement in 1958 (his first round post WW II he had to throw his hands up in the air and walk away). ..

First Statement:
"Men can have friends, statesmen cannot"

"France has no friends, only interests" - In response to Clementine's tsk tsk about him not hating his friends more than his enemies.

Of course - those were the statements of a vulnerable country by a man who was not really 'in charge' - but wanted to assure that Great Britain wouldn't run roughshod over it a the end of World War II. And a man well aware of Clementine's husband's actions taken against the French Navy after they signed the Armistice with Germany (best interest of the populace). More than 1300 French Soldiers killed by a 'friend' of the Resistance Leadership.

And Churchill did that in response to Roosevelt not giving up 50 old US War ships because he was afraid the 'new' and quite green Churchill (his opinion) would succumb too quickly to the Germans - losing our offensive means as a result.


Contrast that with Louis the XVI being personally pleased at the idea of both humliating his country's long standing enemy - the British as well as the OPPORTUNITY to become the chief trade partner of the new country - the United States. He also saw it as an opportunity to hold onto their US territories they maintained after the 7 years war(s). Could we have secured independence from Great Britain had we not sent France into severe debt due to their support and 'secret arms deals' with us? Who knows. But their debt/poverty due to our revolution - was a large part of their Revolution. They were our resource - and we quickly became theirs - as a 'thought' resource and inspiration.

I see Japan as conquered country. South Korea - a free one due to our assistance (my father's first tour was there). Israel - a horse of a completely different color. Israel does what it wants, when it wants regardless of how much foreign aid pours into their till while petty selfish people on the Right in the US laugh at hungry children in their own backyard.

So I guess I'm a bit of a De Gaulle myself. I see only our interests - and in light of the LIBOR Scandal and where it originated from - perhaps on the foreign battlefield we can count on G.B. - but in our own backyard - the British leadership does not have a kind benevolence for the average American. And they went right into that insanity in Iraq - while Chirac stood his ground and informed the world that it was foolish. Don't do it. Remember Algiers!

Had we listened to him instead of . ..

[1-Old-Man]

10. Australia, Canada, South Korea, Japan, India

[Johonny]

17. The United States supported Pakistan both politically and materially in the Pakistan-India war 1971

not something you generally do to your closest allies.

I think the American people are generally much more positive about our countries relations with India than GOP politicians.

[Kaleva]

21. In 1971, India was very freindly with the Soviet Union.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

16. The banksters who loan us money to keep us afloat.

Of course, the do charge a lot for being our "allies".

[guneydomuz]

18. Canada, Mexico, UK and Commonwealth Nations, Japan and South Korea

[XemaSab]

22. Interesting that you're the only person to mention Mexico

Also, welcome to DU!

[Kaleva]

20. As we share a border with Canada, that nation is our closest ally.