The greater the perceived military threat to a state, the more a state will pay to maintain an alliance. Within a military alliance the share of the costs will be affected by the relative dependence of the states involved. 0° When there is a substantial difference between the dependence of the parties, the more dependent will pay costs in order to entangle its neighbor and to reduce the likelihood of abandonment. (Frequently, though not always, the dependence of the weaker power for direct military support is offset by the dependence that stronger power has on the continued existence of the weaker to ensure that the balance of aggregate power is not overturned.)