'Deterrence' referes to:

(1) Preventing war
(2) Limiting war
(3) Ending war
(4) All of the above.

1

In the international politics, the security policy concerned with preventing war is called deterrence, and the one with limiting or ending the war is called defense.
The logic of deterrence during the Cold War meant that two rival powers possessing the capacity to retaliate will not end up doing so because of the ensuing destruction that neither can afford.