Counterintervention

Counterintervention is a term used in international relations to describe actions by a state or coalition intended to prevent, deter, or reverse foreign intervention in its territory, government, or region, or to resist external attempts to influence its internal affairs. It encompasses a range of tools and strategies aimed at limiting external influence or interference.

Forms of counterintervention include military deterrence and denial, coercive diplomacy, economic measures such as sanctions or aid conditioning, legal challenges in international forums, and information campaigns designed to shape perceptions and bolster domestic resilience. In practice, counterintervention often blends diplomatic pressure with security postures, multilateral arrangements, and support for aligned actors who resist external meddling.

Legal and normative considerations center on sovereignty and non-intervention, while also addressing legitimacy claims when intervention is argued to be necessary for humanitarian or regional security reasons. While international law recognizes principles of state sovereignty, self-defense, and collective security, the permissibility and scope of counterintervention depend on proportionality, necessity, and, in some cases, authorization by international bodies.

Counterintervention is most relevant in contexts of interstate disputes, civil conflicts with external meddling, and regional crises where outside powers seek to influence outcomes. It is distinct from counterinsurgency, which focuses on internal security against insurgent actors, whereas counterintervention concentrates on controlling or countering external involvement.

See also: Intervention, Non-intervention, Deterrence, Collective security, State sovereignty.