Which type of defense is designed to deny the enemy access to designated terrain without necessarily destroying them?

The area defense is a military strategy specifically aimed at controlling a defined space to prevent enemy access or occupation. This type of defense focuses on utilizing terrain to establish a fortified position, allowing forces to inhibit enemy movement without direct engagement or destruction. The primary goal is to leverage the environment and defensive postures to direct and control the flow of conflict, which can assist in effectively managing resources and ensuring that key positions remain secure.

In an area defense, forces often construct obstacles, establish firing lines, and develop comprehensive plans to maneuver troops effectively within the designated area. This creates a situation where the enemy is denied the ability to occupy or exploit the terrain for their advantage, effectively achieving strategic objectives even without direct combat engagement.

Other options reflect different strategies with different priorities. Mobile defense focuses on the ability to maneuver and strike, typically involving a combination of offense and defense. Retrograde is about withdrawing forces to preserve them for future engagements, and pursuit is aimed at chasing down retreating forces to inflict maximum damage. These strategies do not prioritize the control of specific terrain to the same extent as area defense does.