The Nuclear Arms Race

This section explains the Nuclear Arms Race at the heart of cold war tensions. The dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the USA in 1945 marked the dawn of the nuclear age. The Soviet Union, determined not to fall behind, succeeded in testing its own atomic bomb by 1949. This ended the American nuclear monopoly and began an intense arms race between the superpowers, the USA and the USSR.

Nuclear Deterrence and MAD

The development of nuclear weapons introduced the concept of nuclear deterrence. This theory proposed that simply possessing nuclear weapons would discourage other nations from attacking, out of fear of massive retaliation. As the Cold War progressed, this idea evolved into the doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD). MAD held that the sheer scale of destruction from a nuclear conflict would be so catastrophic that neither side could risk initiating an attack.

For example:

• The Hydrogen Bomb: In 1952, the USA tested the first hydrogen bomb, which was 2,500 times more powerful than the atomic bomb. The USSR followed suit in 1953.
• Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs): By 1957, the Soviet Union had developed rockets capable of delivering nuclear warheads over thousands of miles. The USA tested its own ICBMs by 1958.
• Polaris Submarines: In 1959, the USA deployed Polaris submarines, armed with nuclear missiles that could be launched from close proximity to the Soviet Union.

Despite these advancements, nuclear weapons were never used in conflict after 1945. This restraint was evident during the Korean War, when President Harry Truman sacked General MacArthur for suggesting the use of atomic weapons to end the war.

Eisenhower’s Warning

As the arms race escalated, military spending surged. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who had been a five-star general, warned about the influence of the Military-Industrial Complex—a term he used to describe the close relationship between the armed forces, defence contractors, and government. He feared that future civilian presidents might not resist their pressure for ever-increasing military budgets.

Key Milestones of the Arms Race

Here are some of the major events in the nuclear arms race:

• 1945: The USA drops atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
• 1949: The USSR tests its first atomic bomb, ending the US monopoly on nuclear weapons.
• 1952: The USA tests the first hydrogen bomb, with the USSR following in 1953.
• 1955: The USA announces its Doctrine of Massive Retaliation, pledging overwhelming force against any attack on the USA or its allies.
• 1957: The USSR develops the first ICBM, capable of delivering nuclear warheads globally.
• 1961: The USSR detonates the Tsar Bomba, the largest nuclear explosion ever recorded.
• 1962: The Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink of nuclear war.
• 1968: The USA develops MIRV technology, enabling a single missile to carry multiple warheads aimed at different targets.

Impact of the Arms Race

The arms race had profound consequences:

• Cold War Tensions: Both superpowers poured vast resources into weapons technology, increasing global tension.
• Economic Strain: The financial burden of the arms race contributed to the eventual collapse of the Soviet economy.
• MAD Doctrine: The arms race entrenched the theory of Mutually Assured Destruction, ensuring that nuclear war remained a threat but was never realised.