Which term describes a group of countries working together to escort ships through a strait?

• A. Coalition
• B. Alliance
• C. Federation
• D. Union

Answer: (A)

Cooperation among several countries for a specific task is described as a coalition. When nations come together for a particular mission, like escorting ships through a strait, they form a temporary, task-focused group to pool resources and coordinate actions. This fits a coalition because the aim is clearly defined and time-bound, rather than a long-term, formal pact or a permanent political structure.

An alliance usually implies a more formal, ongoing treaty with broader commitments beyond a single operation, which isn’t implied by the need to escort ships through a strait. A federation refers to a single country composed of multiple subunits sharing sovereignty under a central government, not a loose arrangement of separate nations. A union can denote various kinds of political or organizational structures, but it doesn’t capture the idea of a temporary, collaborative effort for a specific maritime mission as well as coalition does.

So the term best describing a group of countries working together to escort ships through a strait is coalition.