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For any of the nuclear weapons states, the nuclear deterrent is that country's nuclear weapons arsenal, considered in a defensive context. A nuclear deterrent is typically intended to deter other states from attacking with nuclear weapons through the promise of retaliation and mutually assured destruction. It can also be assigned as a response to an attack by conventional forces; for example, the doctrine of massive retaliation threatened to launch US nuclear weapons in response to Soviet attacks. In order for a nuclear deterrent to be successful, a country must preserve its second-strike capability. A successful nuclear deterrent is usually composed of a nuclear triad. The nuclear deterrent of each of the nuclear weapons states is discussed individually under the entry for that country.
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