The phrase "association of countries" may refer to a group of nations that have agreed to work together for a specific purpose. Some synonyms for this phrase include "alliance," "coalition," "confederation," and "federation." An alliance is a union formed for mutual benefit, often through a treaty, pact or agreement. A coalition is a temporary alliance formed for a specific purpose, such as a military operation. Confederation and federation are terms used to describe political unions of countries, where power is shared between a central government and individual states or provinces. These synonyms can be useful when discussing international relations and politics.