How do countries build surprising diplomatic relationships?

• Trade, security, and cultural exchanges are common reasons to establish these relationships, which are sometimes not what the people themselves really want.
• Some countries, such as Israel, are building relations to reduce international isolation.
• Common language matters less in developing these friendships than one might think.
• Surprising bilateral relations can be established due to geographic location and policy overlap such as the relationship between the Marshall Islands and the United States.

Listen to the entire interview here.