armed neutrality

American  

noun

1. military preparedness without commitment, especially as the expressed policy of a neutral nation in wartime; readiness to counter with force an invasion of rights by any belligerent power.

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Etymology

Origin of armed neutrality

First recorded in 1770–80

Example Sentences

But they say it is critical to armed neutrality.

From New York Times • Mar. 12, 2023

Opinion polls had shown the plan would easily win approval in a country where armed neutrality is a tradition, but only 50.2% of voters approved the funding in September.

From Reuters • Jun. 30, 2021

At Tabatinga, five miles below Leticia on Brazilian soil, several thousand Brazilian troops maintained "armed neutrality" last week.

From Time Magazine Archive

Knowing that trouble might result, Brazilians have had to send troopships of their own up the Amazon to preserve "armed neutrality."

From Time Magazine Archive

After the brief state of quiet, there came a state of armed neutrality.

From Speeches, Addresses, and Occasional Sermons, Volume 3 (of 3) by Parker, Theodore