The disbandment of the Warsaw Pact occurred during a meeting of its member states in Budapest, where political leaders recognized the need for change following the wave of democratic movements sweeping across Eastern Europe. The Warsaw Pact was formed in 1955 as a collective defense treaty among the Eastern Bloc countries in response to the integration of West Germany into NATO. Over the decades, it had served not just a military function but also as a symbol of Soviet dominance in Eastern Europe. By the late 1980s, numerous member states began transitioning to more democratically oriented governance, significantly altering the geopolitical landscape. The meeting in Budapest involved representatives from Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Bulgaria, Romania, and the Soviet Union. The decision to disband was largely influenced by the fall of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent political reforms occurring in member nations. Following the meeting, the official declaration was made, signaling an end to the alliance that had played a crucial role in Cold War tensions. This momentous decision represented not only a shift in military strategy but also a significant step towards European integration.