1. A country that is nominally independent but is actually controlled by another, more powerful state
During World War II, several European nations became puppet states of Nazi Germany.
Durante a Segunda Guerra Mundial, várias nações europeias se tornaram estados fantoches da Alemanha Nazista.
2. A government or regime that appears to have authority but whose decisions are made by an external power
The opposition criticized the new administration as a puppet state of foreign interests.
A oposição criticou a nova administração como um estado fantoche de interesses estrangeiros.