Military alliance in combat ultimately possesses death instinct (8)
Definition
death instinct
Wordplay type
Container
Explanation
NATO (military alliance) inside T, HAS (end of combaT, possesses). The Greek word for death, and the God who personified death. Freud wrote about the concept of thanatos and eros being the instincts for death and life, bringing the word into present day usage.
Source: Times for the Times
Answer
THANATOS