Describe the role of nuclear weapons in global affairs.

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1 point
The existence of nuclear weapons has been used as a bargaining chip and threat during global affairs in the Cold War and beyond.
The existence of nuclear weapons has been used as a threat, but never a bargaining chip, during global affairs.
The existence of nuclear weapons has been used as a bargaining chip and threat during global affairs exclusively between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
The existence of nuclear weapons was used as a bargaining chip and threat during global affairs until the fall of the Soviet Union.

The existence of nuclear weapons has played a significant role in global affairs by serving as both a deterrent and a tool for coercion. During the Cold War, nuclear weapons were used by the United States and the Soviet Union as a means to deter each other from engaging in direct conflict. The threat of mutually assured destruction was a powerful deterrent that helped to prevent large-scale nuclear war.

At the same time, nuclear weapons were also used as a bargaining chip in negotiations between the superpowers. Strategic arms control agreements, such as the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), were reached in order to limit the spread of nuclear weapons and reduce the risk of nuclear conflict.

In the post-Cold War era, nuclear weapons continue to play a role in global affairs as countries like North Korea and Iran seek to acquire nuclear capabilities. The possession of nuclear weapons confers a certain level of prestige and influence on countries, and can be used as a means to project power and influence in international relations.

Overall, the presence of nuclear weapons has shaped the dynamics of global affairs by influencing state behavior, shaping alliances and conflicts, and defining the parameters of international security.