How did the Arms Race exacerbate Cold War tensions?

The Arms Race heightened Cold War tensions by escalating military competition and fostering mutual distrust between the US and USSR.

The Arms Race, a key aspect of the Cold War, was a period of intense competition between the United States and the Soviet Union to build up their respective arsenals of nuclear weapons and other military technologies. This race exacerbated tensions between the two superpowers in several ways. Firstly, it created a climate of fear and suspicion. Each side was constantly on edge, fearing that the other might gain a decisive military advantage. This fear was not unfounded, as both sides were developing increasingly powerful and destructive weapons, such as intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and hydrogen bombs.

Secondly, the Arms Race led to a massive increase in military spending, which put a significant strain on both economies. In the US, this led to the 'military-industrial complex', a term coined by President Eisenhower to describe the close relationship between the military hierarchy and the industrial sector that supported it. In the USSR, the economic burden of the Arms Race was even greater, contributing to economic stagnation and eventually the collapse of the Soviet economy.

Thirdly, the Arms Race also exacerbated ideological differences between the two superpowers. The US and the USSR had fundamentally different political and economic systems, and each viewed the other's military build-up as a threat to its own way of life. This deepened the divide between the two, making diplomatic resolution of their differences more difficult.

Finally, the Arms Race also led to a number of dangerous confrontations, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. This was a direct result of the USSR's attempt to place nuclear missiles in Cuba, a move that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. Such incidents heightened tensions and increased the risk of a full-scale war between the two superpowers.

In conclusion, the Arms Race was a major factor in escalating Cold War tensions. It created a climate of fear and suspicion, strained both economies, exacerbated ideological differences, and led to dangerous confrontances.