In my perspective having an ally of a country is having a colleague. However, having allies is having a group to seek advantages collectively. It is why many call allies a strategic relationship. Sometimes allies can be costly because they entail trade deals or contributions. Also, it does not indicate that having allies is free from every risk profile. The former example is UK, and the latter example is Ukraine. Main reason UK withdrew EU is that even though UK pays most of the contribution to the bloc most goes to support the other European nations. It is an example that financial maladies deteriorated relationship. Then there is Ukraine which attacked by their once closest ally in 2014 and 2022 respectively. After the dissolution of Soviet Union, most of ex-Soviet nations formed allies called CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States). Even before Ukraine withdrew from this partnership it got attacked by Russia which is one of the member states. There are no everlasting allies.

Thank you for this Aciel! You're right, being an ally of another country is a strategic relationship. We have to know how to play the game to survive, to prosper and to benefit.