Protectorates

A protectorate is a relationship where a stronger country offers protection and guidance to a weaker one, often in exchange for influence or certain agreements. Unlike a colony, where the stronger country directly governs the territory, a protectorate maintains some degree of local administration but relies on the protecting nation for defense and foreign policy. This arrangement allows the weaker country to benefit from security and stability while still retaining limited internal control. Protectorates were common historically as a way for powerful nations to expand their influence without full colonization.