Reagan's military buildup intensified arms race from "summary" of The Cold War by John Lewis Gaddis
Reagan's military buildup had a significant impact on the arms race during the Cold War. The Reagan administration believed that the United States needed to regain military superiority over the Soviet Union, which they felt had been lost during the 1970s. As a result, Reagan initiated a massive military buildup that included modernizing the country's nuclear arsenal, developing new missile defense systems, and expanding the size of the armed forces. The Soviet Union, faced with the prospect of falling behind the United States in terms of military capabilities, responded by ramping up its own military spending. This led to an escalation in the arms race between the two superpowers, as each side sought to outdo the other in terms of military technology and firepower. The increased competition between the United States and the Soviet Union only served to heighten tensions between the two countries. The Reagan administration's military buildup also had a destabilizing effect on international relations. Other countries, particularly those caught in the middle of the Cold War struggle, felt compelled to increase their own military spending in order to keep up with the superpowers. This further exacerbated global tensions and increased the likelihood of conflict.- Reagan's military buildup intensified the arms race by sparking a competitive cycle of military spending and technological advancement between the United States and the Soviet Union. This not only strained relations between the two superpowers but also had a ripple effect on countries around the world, leading to increased militarization and heightening the risk of conflict.
