A buffer state is a country situated between two or more larger, potentially hostile powers. Its existence can help to prevent conflict between them by separating them geographically. Nepal, located between India and China, serves as a contemporary illustration of this concept.
The presence of such a state can mitigate potential border disputes and limit direct confrontation, thus promoting regional stability. Historically, these entities have often been strategically created or maintained through diplomatic efforts and agreements by the larger surrounding powers to serve mutual interests in avoiding direct conflict. Belgium, in 19th-century Europe, functioned similarly between France and Germany.