national security
Guarding the homeland
National security is the protection of a nation's citizens, territory, and interests from threats—military, economic, or political.
Governments invoke it to justify defense spending, intelligence operations, and restrictions on information: The documents were classified for national security reasons.
The phrase can be wielded broadly, sometimes to shield actions from public scrutiny: Critics argued national security was just a pretext for secrecy.
Official enactment of statutes
- foreign policyInternational relations strategy
- diplomacyNegotiation between nations
- counterterrorismCombating organized political violence
- economic sanctionsPunitive international trade restrictions
border control · immigration · trade agreements · nonproliferation · peacekeeping · geopolitics · emergency powers · defense budget
Covert intelligence gathering
- CIAU.S. foreign intelligence service
- NSAFederal cryptologic intelligence agency
- FBIU.S. domestic intelligence agency
- MI6UK espionage agency
Mossad · surveillance · counterintelligence · spy · agent · informant · intercept · decrypt
Armed forces collectively
- armed forcesNation's combined military services
- armyOrganized land-based military
- navyMaritime military force
- air forceMilitary aviation branch
marines · troops · missiles · warships · fighter jets · tanks · fortification · strategic
Protection of digital systems
- hackingInfiltrating protected digital systems
- cyberattackMalicious digital intrusion
- firewallNetwork access control system
- encryptionConverting data into code
data breach · critical infrastructure · cyberwarfare · malware · ransomware · network defense · information warfare · vulnerability
Lines separating regions
- territoryLand under jurisdiction
- airspaceRegulated overhead flight zone
- territorial watersSovereign coastal sea zone
- jurisdictionLegal authority's scope
independence · statehood · self-determination · constitution · legitimacy · recognition · noninterference · autonomy
Intimidation through targeted violence
- insurgencyArmed uprising against authority
- nuclear proliferationWeapons capability spreading internationally
- weapons of mass destructionArms causing widespread casualties
- rogue statesInternationally condemned governments
sleeper cells · radicalization · bioterrorism · chemical weapons · arms trafficking · asymmetric warfare · domestic terrorism · extremism
legislation
Official enactment of statutes
- foreign policyInternational relations strategy
- diplomacyNegotiation between nations
- counterterrorismCombating organized political violence
economic sanctions · border control · immigration · trade agreements · nonproliferation · peacekeeping · geopolitics · emergency powers · defense budget · executive order
espionage
Covert intelligence gathering
- CIAU.S. foreign intelligence service
- NSAFederal cryptologic intelligence agency
- FBIU.S. domestic intelligence agency
MI6 · Mossad · surveillance · counterintelligence · spy · agent · informant · intercept · decrypt · SIGINT
military
Armed forces collectively
- armed forcesNation's combined military services
- armyOrganized land-based military
- navyMaritime military force
air force · marines · troops · missiles · warships · fighter jets · tanks · fortification · strategic · tactical
cybersecurity
Protection of digital systems
- hackingInfiltrating protected digital systems
- cyberattackMalicious digital intrusion
- firewallNetwork access control system
encryption · data breach · critical infrastructure · cyberwarfare · malware · ransomware · network defense · information warfare · vulnerability · cyber defense
borders
Lines separating regions
- territoryLand under jurisdiction
- airspaceRegulated overhead flight zone
- territorial watersSovereign coastal sea zone
jurisdiction · independence · statehood · self-determination · constitution · legitimacy · recognition · noninterference · autonomy · buffer zone
terrorism
Intimidation through targeted violence
- insurgencyArmed uprising against authority
- nuclear proliferationWeapons capability spreading internationally
- weapons of mass destructionArms causing widespread casualties
rogue states · sleeper cells · radicalization · bioterrorism · chemical weapons · arms trafficking · asymmetric warfare · domestic terrorism · extremism
- US Governmentexecutive branch, legislative branch, judicial branch, Congress, House
- federal powersdeclare war, interstate commerce, federal taxes, war powers, military
- government powersexecutive power, judicial power, legislative power, war powers, police power
- military policydefense strategy, defense budget, military spending, troop deployment, military reform
- defensedefense, defending, protecting, protection, safety
- executive branchexecutive branch, Oval Office, executive power, executive orders, cabinet secretary
national securityexistential threat
Peril to survival itself
defenselessness · foreign domination · failed state · occupation · invasion
national securitycivil liberties
Rights limiting government power
individual freedom · personal privacy · constitutional rights · human rights · open society
secure, security, nation, national, nationalism, international, nations, multinational, nationalist