There are no permanent friends of foe in international relations but permanent interest explain

Using Ruto and Uhuru of Kenya as case study:

The Foreign policy of a state is conditioned by two determinants, namely the domestic and the foreign. There are contending arguments over the primacy of one determinant over the other. Olu Adeniji argues that the external factor i.e. the nature of the international system in which nations operate, primarily determines the foreign policy of especially the developing countries (2000: 34). 

He maintains, “This is a reality to which African countries have to adjust” (35). But scholars of Sonni Tyoden’s kind contend that socio-political domestic milieu is a crucial determinant of foreign policy(1989:58). Apart from the influence of the foreign policy machinery, other domestic factors of crucial importance to foreign policy formation include the nature and organization of the government itself, political institutions and the ethical basis of the socio-political practice in the society generally. It is within this context that government priorities as reflected in policy, take meaning. The Nigerian civil war is situated in the domestic influence of the Nigerian foreign policy. Rare enough, the war no doubt is one of the test cases of domestic force that explained Nigerian foreign policy between 1967 and 1975, even beyond. Among others, it exerted considerable influence over the policy adopted towards France, Gabon, Gambia and others.

The Hague trials have proved more than ever to be what we have been told again and again but refused to learn: that in politics there are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests. “Permanent interests” in this case simply means - you scratch my back or groin, I scratch yours - we tame the itch and stop fidgeting.

Friendship is a difficult thing to maintain even among the closest of families. Friends are hard to come by, so hard to keep and at times even so hard to get rid of. Not in politics though. Here, friendships are as easy as ABC. You can change them like underwear without having a bath and it is just okay.

Politics is a dangerous and dirty game, and truth is not necessarily fair game. Someone can kill your mother today, but after the burial the person joins your political party and you become the best of friends. This kind of political friendship does not require any standard of proof or evidence beyond any reasonable doubt. It does not care what the rest of the family or bereaved think or feel, as long as you both stand to gain from the friendship. That is “permanent interests” for you.

Striking a common bond

Once members of the opposition, no one dared imagine that Ruto and Uhuru would one day be as close as a finger and a ring a.k.a. chanda na pete. But they had permanent interests – to evade The Hague trials, assume the leadership of their country and hold it tight between them so no one can wrest it away from them. After striking a common bond and targeting a common enemy, they rode on sympathy votes and campaigned on the grounds that opposition leader Raila Odinga had fixed them by taking them to The Hague.