To undermine the European Union and to consolidate ties between Moscow and the future possible leader of pro-Kremlin France.
However, following the election of the pro-Russia president Viktor Yanukovych in February, and his subsequent decision to drop the Ukraine's bid to join Nato, the US has actively sought to consolidate ties between the two countries under the US-Ukraine strategic partnership.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's efforts to consolidate ties with Cuba, in order to combat international isolation resulting from the Ukraine crisis, became apparent with his July 2014 visit to Havana.
Indonesia recognises the importance of consolidating ties with Melanesia.
Mr Sarkozy is likely to head to Berlin for his first foreign trip, to revive the Franco-German alliance and consolidate his tie to Angela Merkel, Germany's chancellor, whom he congratulated in the familiar tu style as soon as she was elected.
The Arab world welcomes a balanced and evenhanded American policy in the Middle East, and looks forward to consolidating its ties with the United States on the basis of common interests and mutual respect.
The Iraq war continues, by proxy, in other theatres – for example, in the way the Sunni-led monarchies of the Gulf are consolidating their ties with Washington in opposition to what they see as a nascent Shia-dominated alliance embracing Iraq, Iran and Syria.
Within the United Nations, the Group of 77 was formed to pursue nonalignment as a way of consolidating strong ties among the states, which were either formally colonized by the Western powers or those with economic and political characteristics of the Global South.
In his visits to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, then to Yerevan, Armenia, and to Tbilisi, Georgia, Mr. Rumsfeld was building on an opportunity to consolidate American military ties to a vital region at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, Russia and the Middle East.
More formal cross-border institutions also consolidate bi-national ties, including local business alliances as well as international agreements on trade and environment.
"With its relations with the West badly broken, Russia seeks to consolidate and expand its ties to major non-Western players".
