"Geography has made us neighbors. History has made us friends. Economics has made us partners, and necessity has made us allies. Those whom God has so joined together, let no man put asunder"

Geography dictates physical proximity, shaping relationships between nations as an inescapable fact. Neighboring countries, by sharing borders, are drawn into inevitable interaction, whether through cooperation or conflict. Geography, therefore, acts as the initial thread, binding people together simply by where they are placed on the map. Beyond the land itself, history builds upon this physical closeness, transforming simple neighbors into friends through the shared passage of time. Historical events, struggles, victories, and losses entwine the destinies of nations, creating collective memories and a mutual understanding that deepens the connection far past geographic coincidence.

As societies evolve, economic interdependence further fortifies these ties. Commerce, resource exchange, and shared prosperity force nations to recognize their mutual stake in one another’s success. Partnerships rooted in trade, industry, or innovation become essential; economies flourish better in cooperation than isolation. Through economics, the relationship graduates from friendship to partnership, characterized by joint ventures and intertwined futures.

Necessity emerges during times of challenge, war, disaster, existential threats, compelling nations to ally for survival. When faced with circumstances that cannot be weathered alone, alliances are formed not out of want, but out of need. Such alliances are often stronger and more enduring, forged in the crucible of urgency and the recognition that mutual defense and collaboration are sometimes the only path forward.

Finally, invoking the authority of God’s will elevates these connections beyond human deliberation, casting them as sacred unions. The warning against letting man “put asunder” what God has joined confers a moral imperative: the bonds formed by geography, history, economics, and necessity are not to be taken lightly or unraveled for trivial reasons. The statement insists on the sanctity and seriousness of the alliance, urging respect for the profound forces, both natural and transcendent, that unite peoples and nations.