Defence spending buys readiness before a crisis

The emergency-services analogy treats much of defence's value as readiness before a crisis begins. Armed forces also shape international relations continuously by affecting confidence, deterrence, and the choices open to governments. The Bellerophon cuts saved ships in the short term while contributing to a more expensive later reaction. Alliances appear in the analogy as insurance against contingencies, while an existing fleet is the trained emergency service that must already be ready when the crisis arrives.