What was the purpose of the Warsaw Pact formed in 1955?

The Warsaw Pact was established in 1955 primarily as a military alliance among the Soviet Union and seven other Eastern European countries, with the significant intention of countering West Germany's rearmament and its subsequent entry into NATO. This was a critical development during the Cold War, as the alliance represented a consolidation of military power within the Eastern Bloc to create a unified front against perceived Western aggression. The pact solidified the Soviet Union’s influence in Eastern Europe and served as a counterbalance to the collective defense response of NATO, reinforcing the division of Europe into opposing spheres of influence.

While economic cooperation and other forms of collaboration among Eastern Bloc nations existed, the Warsaw Pact's emphasis was primarily on collective defense and military preparedness rather than economic or financial initiatives. Thus, the formation of the pact was a direct strategic response to the changes in the geopolitical landscape initiated by West Germany's NATO membership, making the second choice the most accurate representation of its purpose.