What is the word for An array of nonaligned or friendly states that cushion or protect a larger country from invasion as happened with the former Soviet Union in the East and your neighbors?

Answer 1

The term for an array of nonaligned or friendly states that serve as a buffer or protective zone for a larger country is "buffer states." These states can mitigate the risk of invasion and provide strategic depth, as seen historically with the Soviet Union and its eastern neighbors during the Cold War. Buffer states often maintain a degree of independence while being influenced by the larger power they neighbor.