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The Cold War arms race was a period of intense competition between the United States and the Soviet Union, primarily from the late 1940s to the early 1990s, characterized by the rapid development and stockpiling of nuclear weapons and other military technologies. This rivalry drove significant advancements in weaponry, including intercontinental ballistic missiles （ICBMs）, submarines, and strategic bombers, as both superpowers sought to achieve military superiority and deterrence. The arms race escalated global tensions, leading to events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, and resulted in massive defense expenditures that impacted economies worldwide. It also spurred arms control agreements, like the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks （SALT）, to mitigate the risks of nuclear conflict. |
