15 Times Historical Enemies Became Allies
History’s most surprising plot twist isn’t a betrayal—it’s former enemies shaking hands. When bitter rivals suddenly find themselves fighting on the same side, it often signals that the world has shifted in ways nobody saw coming.
These unlikely partnerships remind us that politics makes strange bedfellows, and yesterday’s mortal enemy can become tomorrow’s closest ally when circumstances demand it. Sometimes these alliances form out of pure necessity, when a greater threat forces old enemies to set aside their differences.
Other times, changing leadership or evolving interests create opportunities for reconciliation that seemed impossible just years before. Here is a list of 15 times throughout history when sworn enemies put aside their hatred and joined forces.
United States and Soviet Union (World War II)
The capitalist United States and communist Soviet Union—bitter ideological enemies—became allies against Nazi Germany during World War II. Despite fundamental differences in political systems, both nations recognized that Hitler’s regime posed an existential threat that required their combined military might to defeat.
France and Britain (Napoleonic Wars to Entente Cordiale)
After centuries of warfare, including the Napoleonic conflicts, France and Britain transformed from archenemies into allies through the Entente Cordiale of 1904. Rising German power convinced both nations that they needed each other more than they needed to continue their historic rivalry.
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Germany and Soviet Union (Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact)
Nazi Germany and communist Soviet Union—despite Hitler’s stated hatred of Bolshevism—signed a non-aggression pact in 1939 that shocked the world. The temporary alliance allowed both powers to divide Poland while avoiding a two-front war, though it lasted less than two years.
China and United States (1970s Rapprochement)
Communist China and capitalist America—separated by ideology and the Korean War—secretly began diplomatic talks that culminated in Nixon’s historic 1972 visit to Beijing. Shared concern about Soviet expansion drove both nations to overcome decades of mutual hostility.
Egypt and Israel (Camp David Accords)
Egypt and Israel—enemies through multiple wars—achieved peace through the Camp David Accords in 1978, with Egypt becoming the first Arab nation to recognize Israel. President Sadat’s bold decision transformed the Middle East’s dynamic, though it cost him his life three years later.
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Rome and Germanic Tribes (Late Empire)
The Roman Empire—after centuries of fighting Germanic tribes—increasingly recruited these former enemies as foederati (allied troops) to defend Roman borders. Barbarian generals like Stilicho rose to commanding positions, fundamentally changing the empire’s military structure.
Britain and Portugal (Anglo-Portuguese Alliance)
England and Portugal—despite periods of conflict—forged the world’s oldest continuous alliance in 1373, which remains active today. Their partnership survived regime changes, wars, and shifting European power dynamics across more than six centuries.
Japan and United States (Post-WWII)
Japan and America—bitter enemies during World War II—became close allies within a decade of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Cold War threat from China and the Soviet Union transformed Japan from occupied territory into America’s key Pacific partner.
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Turkey and Greece (NATO Partnership)
Turkey and Greece—historic enemies who fought repeatedly over territory and independence—both joined NATO in 1952 despite their ongoing disputes. The Soviet threat in the Eastern Mediterranean forced both nations to cooperate within the Western alliance framework.
Vikings and Anglo-Saxons (Danelaw Period)
Viking raiders and Anglo-Saxon kingdoms—after decades of devastating attacks—established the Danelaw, where Norse settlers governed parts of England alongside Saxon rulers. Former enemies became neighbors, intermarrying and sharing territory in a remarkable transformation.
Sparta and Athens (Against Persia)
Sparta and Athens—bitter rivals who would later fight the devastating Peloponnesian War—united against the Persian invasions of 490 and 480 BC. The existential threat posed by Darius and Xerxes temporarily overcame their fundamental differences about governance and society.
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Crusader States and Ayyubids
Crusader kingdoms and Muslim rulers—despite the religious warfare of the Crusades—frequently formed temporary alliances against common enemies. Political pragmatism often trumped religious ideology when strategic interests aligned, creating complex webs of shifting loyalties.
Mongols and Chinese (Yuan Dynasty)
The Mongols—who devastated Chinese cities during their conquest—eventually adopted Chinese administrative systems and cultural practices while ruling as the Yuan Dynasty. Former conquerors became emperors, integrating Mongol military prowess with Chinese governmental expertise.
Protestant and Catholic German States (Thirty Years’ War)
Protestant and Catholic German princes—despite fighting a brutal religious war—formed shifting alliances based on political rather than religious considerations during the Thirty Years’ War. French Catholic support for Protestant states demonstrated how realpolitik could override religious solidarity.
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Ottoman Empire and European Powers (Crimean War)
The Ottoman Empire—long considered the “sick man of Europe” by Christian powers—allied with Britain and France against Russia in the Crimean War of 1853-1856. Shifting balance of power concerns convinced former enemies to fight together against Russian expansion.
When Yesterday’s Foes Become Today’s Friends
These remarkable transformations prove that even the deepest hatreds can dissolve when circumstances change dramatically enough. Whether driven by external threats, leadership changes, or evolving interests, former enemies have repeatedly demonstrated that political necessity can overcome historical grievances.
The key insight isn’t that people forget their differences—it’s that they sometimes discover shared interests that matter more than past conflicts. In our interconnected world, today’s rivals might well become tomorrow’s partners, reminding us that the only constant in international relations is change itself.
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