Question

“The Cold War promoted an arms race as well as arms control.” Support the statement with any three suitable arguments.

Answer 1

The Cold War was a period of intense rivalry between the USA and the USSR. It led to both the rapid expansion of weapons (arms race) and efforts to limit them (arms control).

1. Nuclear Arms Race: Both superpowers competed to develop advanced nuclear weapons. After the atomic bomb, they developed hydrogen bombs, ICBMs, and submarine-launched missiles. This increased global tension and fear of nuclear war.
2. Formation of Military Alliances: The USA formed NATO, and the USSR formed the Warsaw Pact. Both blocs strengthened their military power and supplied weapons to allies, expanding the arms race globally.
3. Arms Control Agreements: Due to the fear of “Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)”, both sides signed treaties to limit nuclear weapons. Important agreements included the NPT (1968), SALT I (1972), SALT II (1979), and the ABM Treaty.