2. To gain military and economic advantages: Alliances could provide countries with access to additional military resources and economic support, which could be critical in the event of war. For example, an alliance with a country that had a strong navy could provide access to naval bases and ships, while an alliance with a country that had a strong economy could provide access to financial resources and supplies.
3. To gain diplomatic support: Alliances could also provide countries with diplomatic support, which could be helpful in resolving conflicts peacefully or in gaining international support for their position. For example, an alliance with a powerful country could help to pressure an aggressor to back down, or it could help to gain international recognition for a country's claims.
4. To establish a balance of power: Alliances could be used to create a balance of power between different countries or groups of countries. This could help to prevent any one country from becoming too powerful and could help to maintain peace.
5. To promote shared values and interests: Alliances could also be used to promote shared values and interests between different countries. For example, an alliance between democratic countries could help to promote democracy around the world, or an alliance between countries that were committed to environmental protection could help to promote environmental sustainability.
In the lead-up to World War I, a series of alliances were formed between the major European powers. These alliances were designed to deter aggression, to gain military and economic advantages, and to establish a balance of power. However, they also contributed to the outbreak of war by making it more difficult for countries to resolve conflicts peacefully and by creating a situation in which any conflict between two countries could quickly escalate into a full-scale war.