CSS Solved English Essay 2026: Nations Have No Permanent Friends and Enemies

Why this topic is important for CSS 2026

CSS Solved English Essay 2026 Nations have no permanent friends and enemies is a highly important topic because it tests a candidate’s understanding of international relations, realism, diplomacy, Pakistan’s foreign policy, national interest, global power politics and strategic decision-making. The topic is not asking for emotional writing. It demands analysis. It asks whether countries act like individuals with permanent friendships and permanent hatred, or whether they act as sovereign units driven by security, survival, economy and influence.

This topic is especially relevant for Pakistan. Pakistan lives in a difficult neighbourhood, faces a hostile eastern border, a complicated western border, energy and economic dependence, climate stress, cyber threats, and a changing world order. It has close ties with China, long historical interaction with the United States, deep religious and economic links with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, geographical compulsions with Iran and Afghanistan, and unresolved conflict with India. Therefore, Pakistan cannot build its foreign policy on emotion alone. It must understand permanent interests.

The focus keyword CSS Solved English Essay 2026 Nations have no permanent friends and enemies is used throughout this post because CSS aspirants search for solved essay material by exact topic. This article is written as both a CSS-standard essay and an SEO-ready WordPress post.

Thesis Statement

CSS Essay Outline

Introduction

International politics is not built on permanent affection or permanent hatred. It is built on power, security, economy, geography, technology, resources and national survival. Individuals may maintain friendships because of love, loyalty and memory, but states behave differently. A state is not a person. It is an organized political community responsible for territory, citizens, resources, borders, economy and future generations. Therefore, the foreign policy of a state cannot be guided by emotion alone. It must be guided by permanent interests.

The statement “Nations have no permanent friends and enemies; they have only permanent interests” expresses a central truth of diplomacy. Countries that are enemies today may become partners tomorrow if their interests converge. Countries that are allies today may become rivals if their interests diverge. History is full of such reversals. France and Germany fought devastating wars, yet later became pillars of European cooperation. The United States and Vietnam fought a brutal war, yet now cooperate because of changing Asian power politics. China and the United States moved from hostility to engagement and then to strategic rivalry, but they still remain economically interdependent.

This is why CSS Solved English Essay 2026 Nations have no permanent friends and enemies is a topic of practical importance. It is not merely a quotation. It is a guide to understanding world affairs. The topic asks candidates to explain why states change alliances, why foreign policy must remain flexible, why national interest must remain central, and why Pakistan must avoid emotional diplomacy.

Pakistan’s foreign policy proves the relevance of this topic. Pakistan has depended on the United States at different moments, but it has also faced sanctions and mistrust from Washington. Pakistan calls China an all-weather friend, but this friendship is durable because both countries have strategic reasons to cooperate. Pakistan has deep relations with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf because of religion, labour, remittances, energy and financial support, but it must also manage ties with Iran because geography cannot be ignored. Pakistan has fought wars with India, yet even hostility requires diplomacy, deterrence and crisis management.

Therefore, the thesis of this essay is clear: nations do not have permanent friends and enemies because international relations are ultimately shaped by permanent national interests. However, realism should not mean moral blindness. A wise state combines national interest with international law, justice, peace and responsible diplomacy.

Meaning of the Statement

The statement means that relations among states are different from relations among individuals. A person may remain loyal to a friend even at personal cost. A person may continue emotional hostility because of memory or personal injury. But a state cannot afford such emotional rigidity. A state must act for the welfare, security and survival of its people. If an old friend damages national interest, the state must revise its policy. If an old enemy becomes useful for peace, trade or stability, the state must engage.

Permanent friends are unrealistic because even close allies disagree when their interests clash. The United States and Europe are allies, but they have disagreed over trade, defence spending, Iraq, climate policy, China and technology regulation. The United States and Saudi Arabia have long security and energy ties, but their relations have faced tensions over oil pricing, regional wars, human rights and great-power competition. Pakistan and the United States cooperated during the Cold War and the War on Terror, but their relations repeatedly suffered when their Afghan, Indian or nuclear interests diverged.

Permanent enemies are also dangerous because they can trap a country in strategic blindness. If a state treats another country as an eternal enemy, it may miss opportunities for de-escalation, trade, humanitarian cooperation or crisis management. Even bitter rivals need channels of communication. Nuclear neighbours especially cannot afford total silence. Therefore, mature diplomacy keeps options open.

In the context of CSS Solved English Essay 2026 Nations have no permanent friends and enemies, the meaning is not that trust has no value. Trust matters. Alliances matter. Shared culture matters. Ideology matters. But all these remain secondary to national interest. Friendship becomes durable when it is supported by mutual benefit. Rivalry becomes manageable when states recognize shared risks.

Realism and National Interest

The statement is closely linked with realism in international relations. Realism argues that the international system is anarchic because there is no world government above sovereign states. In domestic politics, citizens can appeal to courts, police and government. In international politics, states must largely rely on themselves. International law and organizations exist, but they are often weak when great powers disagree. Therefore, states prioritize survival, security and power.

Realism does not mean that states are always aggressive. It means they are cautious, self-interested and security-conscious. A state may join alliances, sign treaties, join international organizations and support peace, but it cannot forget its own security. When survival is at stake, national interest becomes decisive.

Current global military spending shows that hard power still matters. SIPRI reported that world military expenditure reached 2.887 trillion dollars in 2025, increasing by 2.9 percent in real terms. SIPRI also reported that Pakistan’s military spending grew by 11 percent to 11.9 billion dollars in 2025. These figures prove that even in an age of globalization, states still invest heavily in defence because security remains a permanent interest.

National interest is not limited to military security. It includes sovereignty, territorial integrity, economic stability, energy security, food security, technological progress, cyber security, climate resilience, protection of citizens abroad and diplomatic influence. In the modern world, a country may be weakened not only by invasion but also by debt, inflation, cyberattacks, water scarcity, food insecurity, propaganda and technological dependence.

Historical Proof of Changing Friends and Enemies

History strongly supports the argument that nations have no permanent friends and enemies. European history is full of shifting alliances. Britain and France were rivals for centuries. They fought wars across Europe, North America and Asia. Yet when Germany emerged as a common threat, Britain and France became allies. Their old rivalry did not disappear because of sudden emotional love; it changed because strategic interests changed.

The United States and the Soviet Union were ideological opposites, yet they cooperated during World War II to defeat Nazi Germany. After the war, when the common threat disappeared, they became Cold War rivals. This shows that even ideological enemies can cooperate when survival demands it, and wartime allies can become rivals when interests diverge.

China and the United States also provide a powerful example. After the Communist revolution in China, the two countries were hostile. In the 1970s, they moved toward cooperation because both had strategic reasons to balance the Soviet Union. Later, China became a major economic partner of the United States. Today, they are strategic competitors in technology, trade, military influence and global order. Yet they remain economically connected. This relationship proves that rivalry and interdependence can exist together.

The United States and Vietnam fought a devastating war. Decades later, they built practical cooperation because regional interests changed. France and Germany fought repeated wars but later became central partners in the European Union. Arab states historically opposed Israel, yet some normalized relations due to security, trade, technology and U.S. strategic influence. These examples show that international relations are not frozen forever.

For a CSS essay, such historical examples are important because they prove the thesis through evidence. In CSS Solved English Essay 2026 Nations have no permanent friends and enemies, historical analysis helps the candidate avoid empty generalization.

Modern World Politics and Permanent Interests

The modern world is increasingly multipolar. The United States remains powerful, China is rising, Russia continues to influence Eurasian security, the European Union remains an economic force, India is growing in importance, and middle powers such as Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Indonesia and Brazil are asserting their own interests. In such a world, countries do not want to be locked into one camp permanently. They seek flexibility.

India’s foreign policy illustrates this approach. India has developed close relations with the United States, participates in the Quad, and cooperates with Western powers. At the same time, India has maintained defence and energy ties with Russia. This is not confusion; it is strategic autonomy. India tries to gain from multiple sides while protecting its own interests.

Türkiye also follows flexible diplomacy. It is a NATO member, but it engages Russia. It supports some Western positions but also pursues independent policies in the Middle East, Caucasus, Mediterranean and Muslim world. Türkiye’s approach shows that middle powers increasingly avoid permanent dependency on one bloc.

Saudi Arabia has also diversified its diplomacy. It keeps security ties with the United States but has expanded relations with China and other powers. Gulf countries are increasingly using economic power, energy influence and investment diplomacy to protect their interests. Their foreign policy is less ideological and more transactional than before.

In this changing world, Pakistan must also think beyond old formulas. The lesson of CSS Solved English Essay 2026 Nations have no permanent friends and enemies is that emotional alignment is not enough. Pakistan must develop economic, technological and diplomatic capacity so it can engage multiple powers without becoming dependent on one.

Pakistan’s Foreign Policy and Permanent Interests

Pakistan’s foreign policy history clearly shows that national interest, not permanent friendship or enmity, shapes state behaviour. After independence, Pakistan faced security threats, economic weakness and institutional infancy. It joined Western alliances because it needed military and economic support. During the Cold War, Pakistan cooperated closely with the United States. But when interests diverged, the relationship weakened. U.S. sanctions after Pakistan’s nuclear programme and later tensions over Afghanistan proved that alliances are conditional.

After 9/11, Pakistan again became a major partner of the United States because Washington needed Pakistan for the Afghan war. Pakistan received aid and military cooperation, but the relationship remained full of mistrust. The U.S. wanted counterterrorism cooperation according to its priorities. Pakistan had its own security concerns, especially regarding India and Afghanistan. This relationship proves that cooperation without strategic convergence remains unstable.

Pakistan-China relations are often described as all-weather friendship. This relationship is indeed durable, but it is also based on mutual interest. Pakistan gains defence cooperation, diplomatic support and infrastructure investment. China gains a strategic partner in South Asia, access toward the Arabian Sea through CPEC, and a balancing relationship in the region. The strength of this friendship comes from converging interests, not emotion alone.

Pakistan-Saudi relations are also based on multiple layers of interest. Religion and people-to-people sentiment matter, but the relationship also includes remittances, labour migration, energy, financial support, defence cooperation and diplomatic coordination. Pakistan must protect this relationship because the Gulf remains vital for its economy and overseas workforce. At the same time, Pakistan must maintain workable relations with Iran because Iran is a neighbour. Geography is also a permanent interest.

Pakistan-Iran relations require caution and practicality. Iran shares a border with Pakistan. Border security, energy, trade, sectarian harmony and regional stability require engagement. However, Iran’s tensions with Saudi Arabia, the United States and Israel create diplomatic complexity. Pakistan’s interest is not to become part of sectarian or regional wars. Its interest is balanced diplomacy.

Pakistan-India relations show the other side of the same principle. India is Pakistan’s rival due to Kashmir, wars, water concerns, military competition and ideological differences. Yet Pakistan cannot ignore India permanently. Nuclear deterrence requires crisis management. Regional poverty demands some form of stability. Even hostile neighbours need communication to avoid war. Therefore, permanent hatred is not policy; it is a trap. Deterrence and diplomacy must both remain available.

Economic Strength as Foreign Policy Power

A country with a weak economy cannot fully protect its foreign policy independence. This is one of the most important lessons for Pakistan. The Pakistan Economic Survey 2024–25 reported real GDP growth of 2.68 percent in FY2025. This shows stabilization, but not enough transformation. The World Bank has repeatedly stressed that Pakistan needs structural reforms, private investment, human capital development and digital infrastructure to achieve sustained growth.

Economic weakness forces states to seek loans, bailouts and deposits. When a country repeatedly depends on external financing, its diplomatic flexibility reduces. It cannot speak and act with complete confidence because it must consider lenders, donors and creditors. Therefore, economic sovereignty is part of national interest.

For Pakistan, permanent interests include exports, remittances, taxation, energy reform, agricultural productivity, industrial competitiveness and human capital. Foreign policy must be connected with economic diplomacy. Embassies should not only issue statements; they should attract investment, expand markets, protect overseas workers, promote exports and build technology partnerships.

In CSS Solved English Essay 2026 Nations have no permanent friends and enemies, the economic argument is essential. Modern diplomacy is not only about military alliances. It is about trade corridors, energy routes, supply chains, digital markets, climate finance and investment flows. States follow money, technology and markets because these shape power.

Security, Deterrence and Strategic Autonomy

Security remains the first duty of the state. A country that cannot protect itself cannot protect its economy, democracy or citizens. Pakistan’s security environment is complex. It faces a militarized rivalry with India, instability in Afghanistan, border concerns with Iran, terrorism, cyber threats and regional uncertainty. Therefore, defence and deterrence remain permanent interests.

SIPRI’s 2026 data showing high global military spending proves that states still rely on hard power. The world may speak of peace, but countries continue to prepare for conflict. For Pakistan, credible deterrence against India is necessary because both countries are nuclear powers and have a history of wars and crises. Deterrence does not mean war-seeking. It means preventing war by making aggression costly.

However, security should not be reduced to weapons alone. Cyber security is now a national security frontier. Disinformation can weaken societies. Attacks on banking systems, electricity grids, telecom networks and government data can damage national stability. Climate security is also real. Floods, droughts, heatwaves and water scarcity can create displacement, food insecurity and political pressure. Food security and water security are now strategic issues.

Strategic autonomy means the ability to make decisions according to national interest rather than external pressure. Pakistan can achieve this only through economic stability, internal political consensus, diplomatic professionalism and credible security capacity.

Morality, Law and National Interest

A common criticism of the statement is that it sounds morally empty. If nations have only interests, does that mean justice, law and humanity do not matter? The answer is no. A mature foreign policy must include morality and law, but it must also understand power realities. Moral principles without power often remain speeches. Power without morality creates oppression and instability.

For example, the Palestinian question cannot be treated only as a matter of state interest. It involves occupation, civilian suffering, humanitarian law and global conscience. Similarly, Kashmir is not only a territorial dispute; it involves self-determination, human rights and international law. Climate change is not only national interest; it is a shared human crisis. Therefore, values matter.

However, values are applied selectively in world politics. Powerful states often defend law when it supports them and ignore it when it does not. This is why weaker states must combine moral argument with diplomatic skill, economic strength and strategic alliances. Pakistan should support justice, but it must do so through sustainable policy, not emotional reaction.

The balanced position in CSS Solved English Essay 2026 Nations have no permanent friends and enemies is that values matter, but interests decide policy choices. A wise state aligns its values with its interests. It does not abandon morality, but it also does not sacrifice national survival for slogans.

Recommendations for Pakistan

Pakistan should first define its permanent national interests clearly. These include sovereignty, territorial integrity, economic stability, internal peace, food and water security, technological progress, credible deterrence, regional stability and protection of overseas Pakistanis. Without clear interests, foreign policy becomes reactive.

Second, Pakistan must strengthen its economy. Economic reform is not only a domestic issue; it is a foreign policy necessity. Pakistan needs export growth, tax reform, energy reform, investment, skills, agricultural modernization and industrial competitiveness. A stronger economy will give Pakistan more diplomatic independence.

Third, Pakistan should diversify its foreign relations. It should maintain strong ties with China, rebuild practical relations with the United States, protect relations with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, engage Iran carefully, expand relations with Türkiye and Central Asia, explore economic links with Africa and ASEAN, and keep diplomatic options open with all major powers.

Fourth, Pakistan must avoid emotional alignments. Public opinion matters, but statecraft cannot be run through slogans. Foreign policy should be debated in institutions, supported by research and guided by long-term interests.

Fifth, Pakistan should strengthen regional peace without compromising security. It should maintain deterrence against India but also keep crisis communication channels open. It should cooperate with Afghanistan where possible but protect itself against terrorism. It should engage Iran without damaging Gulf relations. Balance is the art of diplomacy.

Sixth, Pakistan should invest in diplomatic capacity. Modern diplomats need expertise in economics, technology, climate, cyber policy, languages, trade law, media and negotiation. Foreign policy is no longer only about political statements. It is about markets, data, investment, climate finance and global narratives.

Conclusion

The statement “Nations have no permanent friends and enemies; they have only permanent interests” is a realistic explanation of world politics. It does not mean that friendship, trust, ideology and values are useless. It means that they remain secondary to national interest. Countries cooperate when their interests converge and compete when their interests clash. Old enemies can become partners. Old friends can become rivals. Alliances last when they serve mutual benefit.

For Pakistan, the lesson is urgent. Pakistan must not build its foreign policy on emotion, slogans or dependence. It must protect its partnership with China, preserve its links with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, engage the United States pragmatically, manage Iran carefully, pursue stability in Afghanistan, deter India, and expand economic diplomacy across the world. Above all, Pakistan must strengthen its economy because diplomatic independence without economic strength is an illusion.

At the same time, Pakistan should not abandon morality. It should stand for justice in Palestine and Kashmir, support international law, oppose aggression and promote peace. But it must pursue these principles with strategy, patience and national capacity. Emotional statements may produce applause, but wise policy protects generations.

In final analysis, CSS Solved English Essay 2026 Nations have no permanent friends and enemies teaches that mature states do not confuse sentiment with strategy. They respect friendship, manage rivalry, avoid unnecessary hostility and pursue permanent national interests with intelligence. A state that understands this truth survives global change. A state that ignores it becomes trapped by dependency, emotion and strategic confusion.

FAQs

What is the focus keyword of this post?

The focus keyword is CSS Solved English Essay 2026 Nations have no permanent friends and enemies.

What does “Nations have no permanent friends and enemies” mean?

It means that countries do not conduct foreign policy like individuals. They cooperate or compete according to permanent national interests such as security, economy, sovereignty and influence.

Which international relations theory fits this essay?

Realism is the most relevant theory because it explains international politics through power, survival, security and national interest.

How can Pakistan apply this idea?

Pakistan can apply it by following balanced diplomacy, strengthening the economy, maintaining strategic autonomy, avoiding emotional alignments and protecting permanent interests with all major powers.

Are morality and values irrelevant in foreign policy?

No. Morality and values matter, but they usually operate within the limits of national interest. A wise state tries to align principles with practical national goals.

What examples can be used in this essay?

Useful examples include U.S.-China relations, U.S.-Saudi relations, India-Russia ties, Türkiye’s flexible diplomacy, Pakistan-China relations, Pakistan-U.S. relations and Pakistan-Saudi relations.

What should be avoided in this essay?

Avoid emotional slogans, anti-country language, irrelevant history and a general essay on friendship. Keep the essay focused on national interest and foreign policy.

Related Reading

For more CSS preparation, read: CSS Solved English Essay Past Papers, Youth Unemployment and Job Creation in Pakistan, and Water Crisis and Food Security in Pakistan.

External References

For official CSS information, visit the Federal Public Service Commission Pakistan. For military expenditure data, see SIPRI. For Pakistan’s economic reform context, see the World Bank Pakistan country page.