A country uses several strategies to influence national and diplomatic policies. The military-industrial complex, as highlighted by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, denotes the link between a country’s military and the industry that provides it, viewed as a single direct involvement that impacts public policy. The military-industrial complex is typically concerned with garnering political backing for the continuation or expansion of military expenditure by the central government, as opposed to other objectives. If the military-industrial complex was allowed to grow unaddressed, Eisenhower speculated that it would promote policy initiatives that were not in the nation’s best interests. For example, involvement in a nuclear weapon fight and increasing military power would threaten Democratic processes.
It is often the case that armaments purchased by governments are exorbitantly costly and of debatable input to the country’s security since there is little competition and budgetary control is typically highly politicized. A good example is a B-2 bomber and the Seawolf submarine in the U. S., both of which need a significant amount of financial and human resources. The military-industrial complex’s push for high military expenditures can lead to the weakening of the country’s non-military manufacturing capacity.