Nuclear Deterrence (Noun)
Meaning
The military doctrine that an enemy will be deterred from using nuclear weapons as long as he can be destroyed as a consequence; "when two nations both resort to nuclear deterrence the consequence could be mutual destruction".
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- The concept of nuclear deterrence is based on the idea that the fear of retaliation will prevent an enemy from launching a nuclear attack.
- The United States and Russia have relied on nuclear deterrence for decades as a strategy to maintain stability in the face of mutually assured destruction.
- Nuclear deterrence played a crucial role in the Cold War by preventing either the United States or the Soviet Union from launching a nuclear attack on each other.
- Experts argue that nuclear deterrence is a necessary evil in the modern world, as it can prevent countries from using nuclear weapons out of fear of retaliation.
- The doctrine of nuclear deterrence assumes that both sides in a conflict have rational leaders who will choose not to use nuclear weapons in order to avoid mutual destruction.