In nuclear strategy, Second Strike Capability is a country's assured ability to respond to a nuclear retaliation against the attacker. The possession of second strike capabilities counters a first strike nuclear threat and can support a no first use nuclear strategy. Reciprocal second strike capabilities usually cause a mutual assured destruction defence strategy, though one side may have a lower level minimal deterrence response. The crucial goal in maintaining sec- ond strike capabilities is preventing first strike attacks from taking out a nation's nuclear arsenal, allowing for nuclear retaliation to be carried out.
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