Western states are increasing defence budgets, accelerating military capability development and extending responsibilities of civil society, including military service, in response to a shifting security environment. Such measures are not only about hardware, they shape narratives, public perception, and political trust. Do these steps reinforce societal resilience and confidence? How are signals of strength perceived by adversaries, and can military build-up communicate restraint as well as resolve? How could defence investments better serve as strategic messages in a contested information space?