client state
noun
1.
a country that is dependent on a larger and more powerful country for its political, economic, or military welfare.
Origin
1915-20
Examples from the web for
client state
Anyone who cannot handle a dependent
client state
and it's lobbyists, does not have the cojones for the problems further afield.
Of course, what separates a
client state
from an ally is a subjective matter.
Rarely has a foreign power been so visible or so heavy-handed in promoting elections in a
client state
.
But this aid should given when asked for and not come with any expectations of setting up a
client state
.