Economic concept
A situation where one actor's attempt to become safer makes another feel less safe.
No. Wanting war and choosing war are different things. Rules, defensive capability, information, and credible collective commitments can make aggression costlier and less likely to succeed, so even a hostile actor may prefer restraint or bargaining. But deterrence is conditional: threats that lack credibility may fail, while threatening preparations can make opponents feel less safe and produce escalation instead.