Why was Austria-Hungary ally in the Triple Alliance when it also their rival?

- Balance of power: Austria-Hungary was concerned about the growing power of Russia in the Balkans, and saw an alliance with Germany and Italy as a way to balance this threat.

- Economic interests: Austria-Hungary had close economic ties with Germany, and an alliance helped to protect these interests.

- Mutual defense: The Triple Alliance was a mutual defense pact, meaning that each country would come to the aid of the others if they were attacked. This provided a sense of security for Austria-Hungary.

- Historical ties: Austria-Hungary had a long history of cooperation with Germany and Italy, and these historical ties helped to strengthen the alliance.

Despite these reasons for alliance, Austria-Hungary and Italy were also rivals in the Balkans. Italy had territorial ambitions in the Balkans, which clashed with Austria-Hungary's interests in the region. This rivalry was one of the factors that led to the outbreak of World War I.