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Why did Marseille support Rome during the Punic Wars?

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View of the old port of Marseille, France, with numerous boats docked in the harbor and the city's terracotta-roofed buildings rising up a hill, topped by the Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica. — Marseille Seaside view of the Old Port of Marseille, France.

Marseille (ancient Massalia) supported Rome during the Punic Wars primarily because the Carthaginians were their great trade rivals. By aligning with the Romans, Marseille secured assistance in subduing native tribes in Liguria, further strengthening its position in the region.1