This was important to the alliance as both regimes mutually had claims on France: Germany on German-populated Alsace-Lorraine and Italy on the mixed Italian and French populated Nice and Corsica. In May 1939, a formal alliance with Germany was signed, known as the Pact of Steel. Mussolini felt obliged to sign the pact in spite of his own concerns that Italy could not fight a war in the near future.
It was significant for the alliance because both regimes had overlapping claims on France: Germany on German-populated Alsace-Lorraine and Italy on mixed Italian and French populated Nice and Corsica. In May 1939, a formal pact with Germany was established, known as the Pact of Steel. Mussolini felt compelled to sign the pact even though he harbored concerns about Italy's readiness for war.