Verbündete

Verbündete is the German term for allies in political, military, or diplomatic contexts. It refers to states, organizations, or individuals that have entered into an agreement or understanding to support each other in pursuing common interests, often related to security or policy goals.

Etymology and form: The word derives from verbünden, to unite or to ally. The masculine singular is der Verbündete; the plural widely used is die Verbündeten. In practice, the term is used for both states and non-state actors that are part of an alliance or mutual support arrangement.

Usage: Verbündete is a generic term for ally or partner within an alliance. It is common in political science, history, and diplomatic reporting. In some contexts, Alliierten is preferred when describing a formal alliance of nations; Verbündete emphasizes the relationship as mutual and ongoing.

Examples: In history, German-language sources refer to the Verbündete of a given nation, though Alliierten or Alliierten is often used for the Allied powers in World War II. The concept also applies to contemporary coalitions and security arrangements, including regional partnerships or multinational organizations.

See also: Alliance, Allied powers, Diplomacy, International relations.