pathfinder state
n.— «One interesting neologism appears in the foreign policy arena: “pathfinder state.” Essentially a new phrase meaning “regional ally,” a pathfinder state is neither a great power nor an emerging great power such as India, but rather a nation whose interest in a progressive international agenda overlaps with Canada’s.» —“Long On Style, Short On Specifics” by Peter Schneider Embassy (Can.) Apr. 20, 2005. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
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