Some structures operate under a Protection Agreement with S.R.S.

ensuring that

• They and their affiliates won’t declare war.
  including some major entities like Blackflag.
• Those who disregard the agreement will face a formidable response.

Rules of this Agreement:

• Under no circumstances can you declare war on anyone,
  if the topic of war arises, clearance must be obtained from S.R.S. before any action is taken.
• Do not boast or issue threats based on this agreement.
  It is acceptable to mention this fact, but only in a passive manner, such as within a Structure-Bio.

This seems to be quite costly during times of peace. It essentially boils down to a mathematical calculation, assessing how much you are willing to invest in protection costs versus the expenses of rebuilding plus the caused reputation damage.

Considering past experiences, it becomes evident that even a single war lost within a year would be a more financially burdensome outcome.

During the war with UnforsakenSyndicate in Aug 2023,
about 62 Billion ISK were lost in just 5 days of battle, which could have covered years of “protection”

Aug 9 2023 (145m), Aug 11 2023 (7.8b), Aug 13 2023 (8.15b), Aug 14 2023 (16.73b), Aug 18 2023 (23.49b)

Of course, all of this logic is based on trust that agreements are honored on both ends,
so far i have not seen anyone telling this wasn’t the case.