In modern military usage, the term "strategic" usually implies a war-prosecuting plan, campaign, or combat capability that could be rapidly decisive in defeating an opponent. In this book on proliferation, "strategic" usually refers to those weapons - long-range offensive nuclear arms, whether missiles or bomber aircraft - that are deployed for nuclear deterrence or retaliation, and to corresponding, strategically capable defensive weapons. Although the term "strategic" is usually associated with long range weapons and operations, in regions consisting of heavily armed small states (e.g., the Middle East), even shorter-range offensive systems may be considered strategic if they are nuclear-equipped and capable of striking deep into an opponent's heartland with potentially crippling effects.
The "big picture" level of war, the highest level of military operations. Strategic decisions are those made by the heads of nations or army commanders. Few miniature games are strategic in nature, but miniature games could be generated by a strategic- or (more likely) operational- scale campaign game. The opposite of strategic is tactical.