Mutually assured destruction

Definition

Mutually assured destruction is a military strategy and national security policy in which a full-scale use of nuclear weapons by two or more opposing sides would cause the complete annihilation of both the attacker and the defender. It is predicated on the theory that no rational actor would initiate a conflict that would lead to total destruction.

Related terms

Nuclear Deterrence: The strategy intended to dissuade adversaries from taking an action not yet started by threatening unacceptable counteraction.

Arms Race: A competition between nations for superiority in the development and accumulation of weapons, particularly between the Cold War-era United States and Soviet Union.

Brinkmanship: The practice of pursuing a dangerous policy to the limits of safety before stopping, especially in politics