The Franco-Russian Alliance was a military and diplomatic agreement between France and Russia established in 1894. This alliance aimed to counterbalance the growing power of Germany and the Triple Alliance, which included Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. The agreement included mutual defense clauses, meaning that if one country was attacked, the other would come to its aid. The alliance played a significant role in the lead-up to World War I, as it solidified the Triple Entente, which also included Britain. The Franco-Russian Alliance helped to create a balance of power in Europe, but it also contributed to the tensions that eventually led to the outbreak of the war in 1914.