Doctrine & strategy
Nuclear Deterrence
The strategy of preventing adversary action by maintaining a credible threat of unacceptable nuclear retaliation.
Effective deterrence requires three elements: capability (sufficient survivable forces), credibility (the adversary believes the weapons will be used), and communication (clear signaling of red lines). Deterrence is fragile: misperception, accidents, and crisis instability can break it.
Related terms
MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction)
A Cold War strategic doctrine in which two or more nuclear-armed adversaries each possess sufficient retaliatory capability that any nuclear attack would result in their own destruction.
First Strike
A nuclear attack intended to disarm an opponent before they can retaliate, by destroying their nuclear forces, command, and control.
Second Strike
The retaliatory nuclear capability remaining after absorbing an opponent's first strike — the foundation of deterrence under MAD.