Quote:
Originally Posted by AlfieA
Not exactly. We've been using the term "friend" to describe an ally a bit here, but that's not entirely correct. If my friend were attacked, I'd help simply on emotional grounds or some sense of comradeship. If I were running a nation, and there was no net benefit to my helping then I wouldn't help. And even if there is a net benefit to justify the assistance, the level of assistance will be in line with the expected benefits.
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The point of having an ally is essentially, to know you are not floating alone in the ocean. I'll scratch your back, you scratch mine. You need some help, I'll do what I can. I need some help, you got my back.
If Japan is being invaded, and asks for France's help, and France declines to help them for no other reason than there is no profit in it for them, then France would be lambasted by all it's other allies. The relationship is a commitment and a promise. If you are allies you are supposed to have a degree of camaraderie, or else it is meaningless.