The main purpose of the Warsaw Pact, established in 1955, was to create a military alliance among the Soviet Union and its Eastern European satellite states in response to NATO. It served as a counterbalance to Western military influence during the Cold War, reinforcing the division between the Eastern and Western blocs. The Pact promoted mutual defense, collective security, and military cooperation against perceived threats from NATO countries. Additionally, it was a tool for the Soviet Union to maintain control over Eastern Europe, ultimately impacting regional dynamics, military strategies, and international relations throughout the Cold War era.