Nuclear deterrence is a military strategy aimed at preventing aggression by threatening severe retaliation. The idea is that if a country possesses nuclear weapons, potential adversaries will be discouraged from attacking, knowing that the consequences would be catastrophic. This concept relies on the fear of mutual destruction, where both sides would suffer devastating losses in the event of a nuclear conflict. Countries like the United States and Russia have maintained nuclear arsenals as a means of deterrence during conflicts, particularly during the Cold War. The effectiveness of nuclear deterrence depends on the credibility of the threat and the ability to respond swiftly to any attack.