<P> The Democratic Republic of Afghanistan can also be considered a Soviet satellite; from 1978 until 1991 the central government in Kabul was aligned with the Communist bloc, and was directly supported by Soviet military power between 1979 and 1989 . The short - lived East Turkestan Republic (1944--1950) was a Soviet satellite until it was absorbed into the People's Republic of China along with the rest of Xinjiang . </P> <P> Some commentators have actually expressed concern that United States military and diplomatic interventions in the Middle East and elsewhere might lead, or perhaps have already led, to the existence of American satellite states . William Pfaff has warned that a permanent American presence in Iraq would "turn Iraq into an American satellite state". The term has also been used in the past to describe the relationship between Lebanon and Syria, as Syria has been accused of intervening in Lebanese political affairs . In addition, Swaziland and Lesotho have both been described as satellite states of South Africa . </P>

Which three current european countries were once satellite states under soviet control