Loose alliance

Can you, please, explain the meaning of "loose alliance"?

Does it mean that the members of alliance are located far away from each other?
Or it means that they are quite discordant?
Maybe it means that they are very independent from each over (i.e. no dominant member, no minors)?

Thank you.

[Tdol]

It means that there are differences between or among them, but they do have something in common. It doesn't mean that they are discordant, but they can't be seen as a single unit.