Editing Tripartite Pact (section)

==Potential signatories==

===Soviet Union===
{{Main|German–Soviet Axis talks}}
Just prior to the formation of the Tripartite Pact, the Soviet Union was informed of its existence and the potential of its joining.{{sfn|Weinberg|1994|pp=199–202}} [[Vyacheslav Molotov]] was thus sent to Berlin to discuss the pact and the possibility of the Soviet Union joining.{{sfn|Weinberg|1994|pp=199–202}} The Soviets considered joining the Tripartite Pact to be an update of existing agreements with Germany.{{sfn|Weinberg|1994|pp=199–202}} During the visit to Berlin, Molotov agreed in principle to the Soviet Union joining the pact if some details, such as Soviet annexation of [[Finland]], could be worked out.{{sfn|Weinberg|1994|pp=199–202}} The [[Soviet government]] sent a revised version of the pact to Germany on 25 November.{{sfn|Weinberg|1994|pp=199–202}} To demonstrate the benefits of partnership, the Soviet Union made large economic offerings to Germany.{{sfn|Weinberg|1994|pp=199–202}}

However, the Germans had no intention of allowing the Soviets to join the pact; they were already making preparations for their [[Operation Barbarossa|invasion of the Soviet Union]], and were committed to doing so regardless of any action taken by the Soviets:
{{blockquote|Political conversations designed to clarify the attitude of Russia in the immediate future have been started. Regardless of the outcome of these conversations, all preparations for the East previously ordered orally are to be continued. [Written] directives on that will follow as soon as the basic elements of the army's plan for the operation have been submitted to me and approved by me. —Adolf Hitler{{sfn|Weinberg|1994|pp=199–202}}}}
When they received the Soviet proposal in November, they simply did not reply. They, however, accepted the new economic offerings and signed an agreement for them on 10 January 1941.{{sfn|Weinberg|1994|pp=199–202}}

===Finland===
{{Further|Military history of Finland during World War II}}
Military co-operation between Finland and Nazi Germany started in late 1940 after Finland had lost a significant amount of its territory to Soviet aggression during the [[Winter War]]. Finland joined Operation Barbarossa on 25 June 1941, which started the [[Continuation War]]. In November, Finland signed the [[Anti-Comintern Pact]], an anticommunist agreement directed against the Soviet Union, with many other countries allied with Germany. Soon, Germany suggested for Finland to sign the Tripartite Pact, but the Finnish government refused since Finland saw its war as a "separate war" from the Second World War and saw its objectives as different from those of Nazi Germany. Finland also wanted to maintain diplomatic relations with the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]], particularly the United States. During the Second World War, Germany asked Finland several times to sign the pact but the Finnish government declined all offers. Diplomatic relations between Finland and the United States were maintained until June 1944 although the US ambassador had already been recalled. The [[United Kingdom]], however, declared war on Finland on 6 December 1941 in support of its ally, the Soviet Union.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

At the request of the German command, the Finns established a winter warfare school in [[Kankaanpää]]. It began its first two-month course for German officers and [[NCOs]] in December 1941. In the summer of 1942, the German-speaking Finnish instructors taught a course on forest warfare. General [[Waldemar Erfurth]], the German liaison to the Finnish general headquarters, considered the school an outstanding success. It was also attended by some Hungarian officers.{{sfn|DiNardo|1996|p=713}}

===Thailand===
{{Further|Thailand in World War II}}
[[File:Thai-German in Berlin 1943.jpg|upright=1.2|thumb|[[Luang Wichitwathakan]] (centre, standing) and German diplomats, 1943]]
[[Japanese invasion of Thailand|Japan attacked Thailand]] at 02:00 local time on 8 December 1941. The Japanese ambassador, Teiji Tsubokami, told the Thai foreign minister, [[Direk Jayanama]], that Japan wanted only permission for its troops to pass through Thailand to attack the British in [[British Malaya|Malaya]] and [[British Burma|Burma]]. At 07:00, Prime Minister [[Plaek Phibunsongkhram]] (Phibun) held an emergency cabinet meeting in [[Bangkok]], and soon, a ceasefire was ordered. Phibun then met with Tsubokami, who offered him four options: to conclude a defensive–offensive alliance with Japan, to join the Tripartite Pact, to co-operate in Japanese military operations, or to agree to the joint defence of Thailand. Military co-operation was chosen, and the Tripartite Pact was rejected.{{sfn|Chinvanno|1992|p=13}}

According to the postwar memoirs of Direk Jayanama, Phibun planned to sign the pact later but was prevented by Direk's opposition.{{sfn|Flood|1970|p=989}}