Soviet entry changes the coalition's politics

In this branch, the Soviet Union is not yet at war with Germany, still has Poland between the two states, and continues to sell raw materials to Germany. Joining a coalition against Japan could therefore be portrayed as strategically useful without immediately opening a European war. Stalin could present Soviet intervention as protection against Japanese imperialism while gaining credit and material support from Britain, France, and the Netherlands. Combined with Soviet intervention in the Spanish Civil War, this opportunity could soften Moscow's status as an international pariah. The path is speculative, but it explains why Soviet pressure matters to both the force balance and Moscow's international standing.