Countervalue

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Countervalue refers to the military strategy of targeting one's forces on what the enemy values most, such as infrastructure and civilians.

This is the opposite of counterforce, which is the targeting of the opponent's military forces.

[edit] Theory

In nuclear warfare, enemy targets are divided into two types; counterforce targeting and countervalue targeting. Countervalue targeting is an example of second strike theory, in that if an aggressor decides to undertake an attack the defender's nuclear arsenals are poised to retaliate.

Countervalue targeting upholds nuclear deterrence, in that both sides are more likely to believe in a no first use policy taken up by the other side. A first strike attack can not prevent retaliation if arsenals are countervalue targeted, strengthening nuclear deterrence.