Triple Alliance — Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy
Bismarck constructed the Triple Alliance as part of his post-1871 system of alliances designed to keep France isolated. His core concern was a Franco-Russian alliance that would face Germany with war on two fronts. The Dual Alliance with Austria-Hungary (1879) was the foundation; Italy, smarting from French acquisition of Tunisia (1881, which Italy had coveted), agreed to join in May 1882. The treaty was defensive in principle: members would support each other if attacked by France or (for Austria-Hungary and Germany) Russia. Italy's membership was always conditional — it had made clear it would not fight against Britain, whose Mediterranean fleet could blockade Italian ports. When war came in 1914, Italy declared neutrality, citing Austria-Hungary's offensive war against Serbia as falling outside the treaty's defensive clauses. The alliance system Bismarck built — intended to prevent war — made a general European war more likely by dividing Europe into two armed camps. The Triple Alliance faced the Dual Entente (France-Russia, 1894), later the Triple Entente (adding Britain, 1907).
- Year: 1882 CE
- Category: Political
