“Common interests build the strongest friendships.”
Countries that are best friends become closest allies due to mutual interests. Often, historical events or future goals cause them to become close. This includes countries that like each other because of their founding fathers’ positive views, or because they helped each other during a war. In this article, we have listed 10 countries that love each other.
Table of Contents
10: China & North Korea
The interesting thing about both countries is that they share a common rival: the United States. A mutual target country is one of the main reasons they come close to each other. China is the largest trading partner of North Korea. Historically, China helped North Korea in the Korean War. Both countries have been bound by a treaty since 1961, similar to NATO, where an attack on one is considered an attack on both. China is occasionally one of the few countries with close diplomatic ties with North Korea.
9: Belarus & Russia
In the current situation, we can see the strongest geopolitical partnership between Belarus and Russia. As the Russia-Ukraine conflict started, Belarus is one of the European countries that strongly aligned itself with Russia. Belarus hosts Russian military bases and radar systems. According to the Levada Center, 80% of Russians think Belarusians are their closest friends. Russia is also the largest trading partner of Belarus. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Belarus received tactical nuclear weapons from Moscow and that the two nations also had drills together.
8: Sweden & Finland
What puts Sweden and Finland on the list of countries that are best friends? A major reason is Sweden’s help for Finland during World War 2 (WWII). Finns are considered the largest ethnic minority in Sweden. More than 8,000 Swedish army and air force personnel helped Finland during the Winter War. Both have cultural connections too because Finland was part of the Swedish Kingdom for centuries. Their friendship was even proven when a Russian-based company, RAO Nordic, stopped electricity to Finland, and Sweden fulfilled Finland’s electricity needs.
7: India & Israel
Both countries have had diplomatic relations since 1992. Countries that are best friends are known to stand by each other, just as Israel has supported India during several India–Pakistan conflicts, including the Kargil War, the 2001–02 military standoff, the 2019 crisis, and the 2025 conflict. Israel was one of the few Middle Eastern nations that backed India. India is considered the largest importer of arms from the Israeli defense industry. Some reports and former CIA officer Richard Barlow suggested that both had a plan to attack Pakistan’s nuclear plant before eventually abandoning the idea.
6: USA & Japan
American-Japanese relations are a prime example of former enemies becoming close friends. According to a Pew survey, both countries view each other through the lens of positivity. What makes them best friends?
- Washington gives security to Japan with the largest number of US bases there.
- A common threat from China makes them closer too.
- Both countries are bound by treaties to address security concerns.
- Both countries are good trading partners
- Both are cooperative in fields like semiconductors and AI.
5: Pakistan & Turkiye
Pakistan and Turkey are considered the closest allies in the world. The Muslims of the subcontinent (present-day Pakistan) strongly supported the Ottoman Caliphate in the 20th century. Pakistan also supported Turkey in many matters diplomatically, especially regarding the Cyprus stance. Similarly, Turkey backed Pakistan many times regarding the Kashmir dispute. Both are Muslim-majority countries, which also connects them religiously. During the 2019 Pakistan-India military standoff, some media outlets reported that Turkey sent cargo aircraft to Pakistan. But later, Turkish officials denied such claims.
4: Australia & New Zealand
How can we forget Australia and New Zealand in the list of countries that are best friends? The friendship was proven when Kiwi soldiers fought alongside Australian forces during the Boer War and both World Wars. A think tank, the Lowy Institute, conducted a survey in 2025 where 85% of Australians considered New Zealand to be their closest ally. Both countries jointly drive regional financial plans and cooperate mutually in their businesses. Both countries also hold a free trade agreement to boost economies.
3: UK & Portugal
UK and Portugal are the oldest allies in the world. A more than 600-year-old alliance between them makes this one of the oldest treaties of friendship. Both countries signed the treaty to help each other in case of an external attack, known as the ‘Treaty of Windsor.’ During World War 1 (WWI), Portugal took the side of the Allied powers. According to the UK Department for Business and Trade, in 2025, Portugal was the 28th largest trading partner of the UK.
2: Netherlands & Canada
If we look at the map of the Netherlands and Canada, they are far away from each other. So, what places them on this list of countries that are best friends? Well, there is immense support from Canadian forces in the liberation of the Netherlands during WWII. During the Second World War, Canada also sheltered the Dutch Royal Family, where Princess Margriet was born in the Ottawa Civic Hospital. After the liberation, Canada also provided humanitarian assistance to the Dutch population, further deepening the enduring friendship between the two countries.
1: Poland & Hungary
“Polish and Hungarian, two brothers, both for the sword and for the glass.”
This proverb reflects the friendship between them. In ancient times, both fought against common enemies. They collaborated in the defense against the Mongol invasions during the 13th century. Additionally, both fought together against the Ottoman Empire during the Crusade of Varna. In the 19th century, Polish volunteers banded together to oppose foreign rule, aiding the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. Moreover, during World War II, Hungary welcomed Polish refugees escaping the German invasion.
Final Thoughts
In international affairs, countries that are best friends because they share mutual interests; some are based on common threats from any country that make them closer. Some are close to others due to religion, or some have the oldest cultural connection, making them good allies. Countries that have good relations today probably become rivals in the future. In the end, interest would be the winner in the global affairs game.
