The two countries were 'neutrals' while their neighbors were at war.
“Why did you do that?” he asked in a 'neutral' tone of voice.
He 'remained/stayed neutral' while his brothers argued.
(..) - How about New York? There are sections of New York that I wouldn't advise you to try to invade. - Who will win the war? - I haven't the slightest idea. Rick is neutral about everything. And that takes in... ...the field of women too. You weren't always so carefully neutral. (..)1942 Casablanca