As for Taiwan, a formal alliance lapsed after America recognised the government in Beijing in 1979.
Merely by rising without any formal alliance with Washington, democratic India balances statist China.
But the Bush administration did not want to be encumbered by a formal alliance.
Since then, thanks to Godane, al-Shabaab has joined in formal alliance with al-Qaida.
For the exchanges, it could lead to a formal alliance, cross-shareholdings or a merger.
The mainstay of the policy is a formal alliance the WWF has made with the World Bank.
She had been sent by the Shabaab, which had announced a formal alliance with Al Qaeda a few months earlier.
It is unclear whether the two regions want full independence, a formal alliance with Russia or full integration with Russia.
Writing on his blog, Grillo reiterated his opposition to any form of formal alliance with Bersani's Democratic Party.
The Anzus treaty, Australia and New Zealand's formal alliance with the United States on military cooperation, was signed in 1951.
That party currently runs the state government, but its avowedly socialist heritage and its partly Muslim support base preclude a formal alliance.
