<P> The king who is situated anywhere immediately on the circumference of the conqueror's territory is termed the enemy . The king who is likewise situated close to the enemy, but separated from the conqueror only by the enemy, is termed the friend (of the conqueror). </P> <P> The idea that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" functioned in various guises as foreign policy by Allied powers during World War II . In Europe, tension was common between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union . Despite their inherent differences, they recognized a need to work together to meet the threat of Nazi aggression under the leadership of Adolf Hitler . Both U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill were wary of the Soviet Union under the leadership of Joseph Stalin . However, both developed policies with an understanding that Soviet cooperation was necessary for the Allied war effort to succeed . There is a quote from Winston Churchill made to his personal secretary John Colville on the eve of Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa). He was quoted as saying, "if Hitler invaded Hell, I would make at least a favorable reference to the Devil in the House of Commons ." The Soviet leader reciprocated these feelings towards his Western allies . He was distrustful and feared that they would negotiate a separate peace with Nazi Germany . However, he also viewed their assistance as critical in resisting the Nazi invasion . </P> <P> The doctrine of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" was employed by nation states in regions outside of the European theater as well . In the Second Sino - Japanese War, within the Pacific theater, an alliance was formed between Chinese Communists and Chinese Nationalists . Leading up to this, these forces had battled each other throughout the Chinese Civil War . However, they formed an alliance, the Second United Front in response to the mutual threat of Japanese aggression . Similarly, the Malayan Communist Party and the British Empire agreed a truce for the Malayan Campaign and subsequent Japanese Occupation . </P> <P> The doctrine was also used extensively during the Cold War between Western Bloc nations and the Soviet Union . The Soviets and the Chinese aided North Korea during the Korean War as well as the Viet Cong / North Vietnamese during the Vietnam War to oppose American foreign policy goals . Likewise, the United States and its allies supported the Afghan Mujahideen after the Soviet invasion in the hopes of thwarting the spread of Communism . In the Third World, both superpowers supported regimes whose values were at odds with the ideals espoused by their governments . These ideals were capitalism and democracy in the case of the United States, and the Marxist--Leninist interpretation of Communism in the case of the Soviet Union . In order to oppose the spread of Communism, the United States government supported undemocratic regimes, such as Mobutu Sese Seko in Zaire, Suharto in Indonesia, and Augusto Pinochet in Chile . </P>

Who coined the phrase the enemy of my enemy is my friend