What were the satellite states?

Satellite states refer to countries that are formally independent but are heavily influenced or controlled by a more powerful country, often through political, economic, or military means. During the Cold War, this term was commonly used to describe nations in Eastern Europe that were aligned with the Soviet Union, such as Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia. These states typically had communist governments and followed the USSR's directives, even though they maintained a façade of sovereignty. The concept highlights the dynamics of power and control in international relations, particularly in the context of superpower rivalries.