![]() ![]() The United States withdrew from the INF treaty in 2019, however, believing that Russia was noncompliant. Other treaties such as the START 1 treaty in 1991 and the New START treaty in 2011 aimed to further reduce both nations’ ballistic weapons capabilities. The Cold War ended in 1991 however, in 1987, the United States and the Soviet Union had signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) to limit the scope and reach of all types of missiles. The crisis ended peacefully however, both sides and the American public had fearfully braced for nuclear war and began to question the need for weapons that guaranteed “mutually assured destruction.” Arms Races Continue ![]() The tense Cuban Missile Crisis standoff ensued and came to a head as Kennedy and Khrushchev exchanged letters and made demands. intelligence observed missile bases under construction in Cuba, they enforced a blockade on the country and demanded the Soviet Union demolish the bases and remove any nuclear weapons. Kennedy administration’s failed attempt to overthrow Cuba’s premier Fidel Castro, and Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev implemented a secret agreement to place Soviet warheads in Cuba to deter future coup attempts.Īfter U.S. The Cold War arms race came to a tipping point in 1962 after the John F. Over the next three decades, however, both countries grew their arsenals to well over 10,000 warheads. missile power was superior to that of the Soviet Union at the time. Many politicians used the Missile Gap as a talking point in the 1960 presidential election. ![]() This theory, known as the Missile Gap, was eventually disproved by the CIA but not before causing grave concern to U.S. Throughout the 1950s, the United States became convinced that the Soviet Union had better missile capability that, if launched, could not be defended against. Eisenhower tried to tone down the rhetoric over the success of the launch, while he streamed federal funds into the United States’ space program to prevent being left behind.Īfter a series of mishaps and failures, the United States successfully launched its first satellite into space on January 31, 1958, and the Space Race continued as both countries researched new technology to create more powerful weapons. This started a new arms race in Europe between Germany, France and Britain - and in the Pacific between Japan and the United States - which continued into World War II. Moreover, Germany violated the Treaty of Versailles and began to rearm. President Woodrow Wilson led the way by making it a key point in his famous 1918 Fourteen Points speech, wherein he laid out his vision for postwar peace.Īt the Washington Naval Conference (1921-1922), the United States, Britain and Japan signed a treaty to restrict arms, but in the mid-1930s Japan chose not to renew the agreement. Arms Control Efforts FailĪfter World War I, many countries showed an interest in arms control. The conflict didn’t cause World War I, but it did help to increase distrust and tensions between Germany, Britain and other European powers. Germany couldn’t keep up, however, and Britain won the so-called Anglo-German Arms Race. Not to be outdone, Germany produced its own fleet of dreadnought class warships, and the standoff continued with both sides fearing a naval attack from the other and building bigger and better ships.
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