A military alliance is an agreement between two, or more, military factions; related to wartime planning, commitments, or contingencies; such agreements can be both defensive and offensive. War is an international relations Dispute, characterized by organized Violence between National Military units Defence Military alliances often involve non-military agreements, in addition to their primary purpose.

Historic military alliances

• Medic Wars
  • Hellenic League - Athens, Lacedemonia, Macedon, others
• Peloponnesian War
  • League of Delos - Athens, Chios, Samos, Lesbos, others
  • Peloponnesian League - Lacedemonia, Corinth, Elis, others
• Wars of Scottish Independence
  • Auld Alliance - Scotland, Norway, France
• Italian Wars
  • League of Cambrai - The Papal States, France, Aragon, Holy Roman Empire
  • Catholic League (Italian) - The Papal States, Venice, England, Aragon, Holy Roman Empire
• Schmalkaldic War
  • Schmalkaldic League - German Protestant States
• Anglo-Portuguese Alliance - England (succeeded by the United Kingdom) and Portugal, since 1373
• Luso-Islamic War
  • Ethio-Portuguese Treaties - Portugal, Ethiopia
• Thirty Years' War
  • Catholic League (German) - Bavaria, other Catholic German States
  • Protestant Union - Protestant German States
• War of the Grand Alliance (Nine Years War)
  • League of Augsburg - The Netherlands, Holy Roman Empire, Spain, Austria, other German states
• War of the Spanish Succession
  • The Quadruple Alliance of 1718
• Napoleonic Wars
  • The Quadruple Alliance of 1814/15
  • First through Seventh Coalitions
• The Quadruple Alliance of 1834
• Anglo-Japanese Alliance - United Kingdom and Japan
• World War I
  • the Entente and the Allies - United Kingdom, France, Serbia, New Zealand, Australia, Russia (to 1917), Romania (from 1916), United States (from 1917)
  • the Central Powers - Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria
• World War II
  • the Axis - Germany, Japan, Italy,and many others. Athens (ˈæθənz Αθήνα Athina,) the Capital and largest city of Greece, dominates the Attica periphery as one of the world's The city of Sparta ( Doric Σπάρτα Attic Σπάρτη Macedon or Macedonia ( Greek grc Μακεδονία grc-Latn Makedonía) was the name of a kingdom centered in the northern-most The Delian League was an association of approximately 150 5th-century BC Greek City-states under the leadership of Athens, whose purpose was to continue Athens (ˈæθənz Αθήνα Athina,) the Capital and largest city of Greece, dominates the Attica periphery as one of the world's Chios (Χίος pronounced ˈçio̞s alternative transliterations Khíos and Híos) is the fifth largest of the Greek islands, situated Samos (Σάμος is a Greek island in the North Aegean Sea, south of Chios, north of Patmos and the Dodecanese, and off Lesbos (Λέσβος also transliterated Lesvos, Midilli is a Greek island located in the northeastern Aegean Sea. The Peloponnesian League was an alliance of states in the Peloponnese in the 6th and 5th centuries BC. The city of Sparta ( Doric Σπάρτα Attic Σπάρτη Corinth, or Korinth ( Greek Κόρινθος ( is a city in Greece. Elis, or Eleia ( Greek, Modern Ήλιδα Ilida, Ancient Ēlis, Doric: Alis, Elean: Walis) is an ancient The Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of military campaigns fought between the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England in the late 13th The Auld Alliance (Vieille Alliance auld-alliansen refers to a series of treaties offensive and defensive in nature between Scotland and France aimed specifically Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The War of the League of Cambrai, sometimes known as the War of the Holy League and by several other names was a major conflict in the Italian Wars. The Papal States, State(s of the Church or Pontifical States (in Italian Stato Ecclesiastico, Stato della Chiesa, Stati della Chiesa This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Aragon ( Spanish: "Aragón") is an autonomous community of Spain. The Holy Roman Empire ( HRE; German Heiliges Römisches Reich (HRR, Latin Sacrum Romanum Imperium (SRI was a union of territories in The War of the League of Cambrai, sometimes known as the War of the Holy League and by several other names was a major conflict in the Italian Wars. The Papal States, State(s of the Church or Pontifical States (in Italian Stato Ecclesiastico, Stato della Chiesa, Stati della Chiesa Venice ( Italian: Venezia, Venetian: Venesia or Venexia) is a city in Northern Italy, the capital of the England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Aragon ( Spanish: "Aragón") is an autonomous community of Spain. The Holy Roman Empire ( HRE; German Heiliges Römisches Reich (HRR, Latin Sacrum Romanum Imperium (SRI was a union of territories in The Schmalkaldic War (Schmalkaldischer Krieg refers to the short period of violence from 1546 until 1547 between the forces of Charles V and the Schmalkaldic League The Schmalkaldic League (Schmalkaldischer Bund was a defensive alliance of Lutheran princes within the Holy Roman Empire during the mid- 16th The Anglo-Portuguese Alliance between England ( succeeded by the United Kingdom) and Portugal is the oldest alliance in the world which England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. The Portuguese Empire was the earliest and longest lived of the modern European colonial empires spanning almost six centuries from the capture of Ceuta NOTE This intro is the result of careful NPOV work Please do not make potentially controversial edits to it without first discussing on the talk page For the Mauritanian Thirty Years' War see Char Bouba war. For the band see The 30 Years War. Background In 1555 the Peace of Augsburg was signed which confirmed the result of the First Diet of Speyer (1526 and ended the violence between the Lutherans Bavaria ( German:, with an area of 70553 Km² (27241 square miles and almost 12 Catholic is an Adjective derived from the Greek adjective '' / 'katholikos' meaning "whole" or "complete". The Protestant Union or League of Evangelical Union (also known as the Evangelical Union or Union of Auhausen) was a coalition of Protestant Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. The Nine Years' War (1688–97 – often called the War of the Grand Alliance or the War of the League of Augsburg – was a major war of the late 17th The Grand Alliance was a European Coalition, consisting (at various times of Austria, Bavaria, Brandenburg, England, the The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands The Holy Roman Empire ( HRE; German Heiliges Römisches Reich (HRR, Latin Sacrum Romanum Imperium (SRI was a union of territories in Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich In the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714 several European powers combined to stop French succession to the Spanish throne and what would likely have been a resulting The term " Quadruple Alliance " refers to several historical Military alliances none of which remain in effect The Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815 involved Napoleon's French Empire and a shifting set of European allies and opposing coalitions The term " Quadruple Alliance " refers to several historical Military alliances none of which remain in effect The term " Quadruple Alliance " refers to several historical Military alliances none of which remain in effect The first was signed in London at what is now the Lansdowne Club on January 30 1902, by Lord Lansdowne (British foreign secretary) and The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All The Triple Entente (" entente " — French for "agreement" was the name given to the loose alignment of the United Kingdom, the The Entente Powers (from Triple Entente) were the countries at war with the Central Powers during World War I. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Serbia (Србија Srbija) officially the Republic of Serbia (Република Србија Republika Srbija) is a Landlocked Country New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Year 1917 ( MCMXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Romania ( dated: Rumania, Roumania Year 1916 ( MCMXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Year 1917 ( MCMXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year The Central Powers ( German: "Mittelmächte" Hungarian: "Központi hatalmak" Turkish: "İttifak Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish The state of Bulgaria (България transliterated bg-Latn ''Balgaria'' The country preserves the traditions (in ethnic name language and alphabet of the First Bulgarian World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Axis powers also known as the Axis alliance Axis nations Axis countries or sometimes just the Axis were those Countries Nazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany under the regime of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers The Empire of Japan ( {{unicode|Kyūjitai}}: ja 大日本帝國 Shinjitai: ja 大日本帝国 pronounced Dai Nippon Teikoku There have been several distinct entities known as the Kingdom of Italy.
  • the Allies - United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, France, United States, Soviet Union, Republic of China, many others. The Allies of World War II were the countries officially opposed to the Axis powers during the Second World War. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The English noun commonwealth dates from the fifteenth century. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES
• Cold War
  • Western European Union (WEU) - currently in process of merging into CFSP and ESDP (see below)
  • North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) -- United States, Canada, most of Western Europe (still an active alliance)
  • Warsaw Pact - Soviet Union, East Germany, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Romania
  • SEATO - United States, United Kingdom, France, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Thailand, Philippines
  • CENTO - United States, United Kingdom, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan
  • ANZUS - United States, Australia, New Zealand (still an active alliance)
  • Five Powers Pact - Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, United Kingdom (still an active alliance)

Current military alliances

Current Major Military Alliances

• North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) - United States, United Kingdom, Canada, most of Western Europe and Central Europe, parts of Eastern Europe, and Turkey. Cold War is the state of conflict tension and competition that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR and their respective allies from the The Western European Union ( WEU) is a partially dormant European defence and security organization established on the basis of the Treaty of Brussels of 1948 The North Atlantic Treaty The Warsaw Pact (see Nomenclature) was an organization of Communist states in Central and Eastern Europe. The German Democratic Republic ( GDR; Deutsche Demokratische Republik DDR; commonly known in English as East Germany) was a Socialist state The state of Bulgaria (България transliterated bg-Latn ''Balgaria'' The country preserves the traditions (in ethnic name language and alphabet of the First Bulgarian Hungary (Magyarország 'mɔɟɔrorsaːg) officially in English the Republic of Hungary ( Magyar Köztársaság, literally Magyar (Hungarian Republic Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland Czechoslovakia may also refer to what is now the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Romania ( dated: Rumania, Roumania The Southeast Asia Treaty Organization ( SEATO) was an International organization for Collective defense created by the Southeast Asia Collective For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP The Central Treaty Organization (also referred to as CENTO, original name was Middle East Treaty Organization or METO, also known as the Baghdad Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and The Australia New Zealand United States Security Treaty ( ANZUS or ANZUS Treaty) is the Military alliance which binds Australia and Five Power Defence Arrangements ( FPDA) are a series of defence relationships established by bilateral agreements between the United Kingdom, Australia, For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and Singapore The North Atlantic Treaty The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Western Europe at its most general meaning means 'all the countries in the West of Europe ' Central Europe is the Region lying between the variously and vaguely defined areas of Eastern and Eastern Europe is a general term that refers to the Geopolitical region encompassing the easternmost part of the European continent. Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches
• Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) - Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan. Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Belarus ( Belarusian Беларусь / Biełaruś is a Landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered by Russia to the north and east Armenia (Հայաստան transliterated: Hayastan,) officially the Republic of Armenia (Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն Hayastani Kazakhstan, also Kazakstan ( Қазақстан, Qazaqstan, qɑzɑqˈstɑn Казахстан, Kazakhstán,) officially the Kyrgyzstan (ˈkɻ̩gɪztɑn (AmE or /'kɝgəztan/ (BrE Kyrgyz: Кыргызстан; Russian: Киргизия or Киргизстан or Кыргызстан Tajikistan (təˈdʒɪkɨstæn or /təˈdʒiːkɨstæn/ Тоҷикистон tɔʤikɪsˈtɔn or, Persian تاجیکستان‎ taajikestaan officially the Republic of Uzbekistan, officially the Republic of Uzbekistan ( Uzbek: O‘zbekiston Respublikasi or Ўзбекистон Республикаси is a doubly
• Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) of the European Union. This article deals with the workings of European Union foreign policy The European Security and Defence Policy or ESDP is a major element of the Common Foreign and Security Policy pillar of the European Union The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in
• Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) - United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore. Five Power Defence Arrangements ( FPDA) are a series of defence relationships established by bilateral agreements between the United Kingdom, Australia, The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and Singapore
• ANZUS Treaty (ANZUS) - United States, Australia, New Zealand. The Australia New Zealand United States Security Treaty ( ANZUS or ANZUS Treaty) is the Military alliance which binds Australia and The United States of America —commonly referred to as the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island
• ECOMOG of Economic Community of West African States. The Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group or ECOMOG was a West African multilateral armed force established by the Economic Community of West The Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS) is a regional group of fifteen West African countries founded on May 28
• Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa (COPAX) of Economic Community of Central African States. The Economic Community of Central African States ( ECCAS; French: Communauté Économique des États d'Afrique Centrale; Spanish: Comunidad The Economic Community of Central African States ( ECCAS; French: Communauté Économique des États d'Afrique Centrale; Spanish: Comunidad
• Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (Rio Pact) - Most of the countries of the Americas. The Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (commonly known as the Rio Treaty, the Rio Pact, or by the Spanish-language acronym TIAR from The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the Continents of North America and South America
• North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) - United States and Canada. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page NORAD and other defense agreements (such as the Permanent Joint Board on Defense) form the most extensive defense alliance in the world.
• Regional Security System (RSS) - several Eastern Caribbean countries. The Regional Security System (RSS is an international agreement for the defence and security of the eastern Caribbean region The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States ( OECS) created in 1981 is an inter-governmental organisation dedicated to economic harmonisation and integration protection of
• Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) - China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation ( SCO) is an Intergovernmental mutual-security organization which was founded in 2001 by the leaders of China,

See also

• Collective defense
• Collective security