3-8. Security cooperation encourages regional stability. Security cooperation tasks are key peacetime military preventative actions that enhance bonds between potential multinational partners, increase understanding of the region, help ensure access when required, strengthen future multinational operations, and prevent crises from developing. Security cooperation in peacetime comprises all military activities that involve other nations and are intended to shape an operational environment. It includes programs and exercises that the U.S. military conducts with unified action partners to improve mutual understanding and improve interoperability with treaty partners or potential coalition partners. Military engagement activities support a combatant commander’s objectives within the theater security cooperation plan. These activities may be long term, such as training teams and advisors assisting land forces, or short term, such as multinational exercises. Commanders may not expect combat, although terrorist attacks against deployed forces are always possible. Policy, regulations, and security cooperation plans—rather than doctrine— typically govern military engagement activities in peacetime. Units usually conduct bilateral military engagement activities, but they may involve multiple nations. Examples of joint operations and activities that fall under security cooperation in peacetime include the following: