Defense and deterrence

Defense and deterrence are strategies to protect a country from threats. Defense involves direct actions, such as military forces and technology, to counter or repel an attack when it occurs. Deterrence aims to prevent attacks before they happen by convincing potential adversaries that the costs and risks of attacking outweigh any benefits. This often relies on maintaining a credible military capability, like nuclear weapons, to deter aggression through the threat of mutual destruction. Together, defense neutralizes ongoing threats, while deterrence discourages future threats by making them strategically unappealing.