[throwaway99x99]

That's not strictly true, if you are saying that China matters more to Vietnam simply because it's in the same hemisphere.

Would it be possible for a state department to aim for a world in which Israel cares more about America's opinion than the other regional powers, such as Iran or Saudi Arabia?

Can you really not think of any other examples where a smaller country might not think, "the adversary of my adversary is my friend"?