The existence of weapons can also be used to defend the helpless and conduct peacekeeping actions.

It is important to keep an open mind about this.

But the word weapon here is a much tamer metaphor meaning tool you pick up to achieve victory: resources (usually capital: money, social, cultural etc), many times in an adversarial environment (youll always get some pushback no matter what you're doing).

"Battle" metaphors are common.

/s