Although the arms race created a frightful threat of world annihilation, the technology along with leadership of NATO essentially reduced the threat of war and maintained a balance of power with the Soviets for decades. Defend or refute the statement.
I would argue that the statement is true and can be defended. The arms race, while creating a significant threat of world annihilation, ultimately played a role in maintaining a balance of power between NATO and the Soviets for decades. The technological advancements made during the arms race allowed both sides to have a deterrent against each other, as well as creating a sense of mutual assured destruction, which served as a deterrent against the use of nuclear weapons.
Additionally, the leadership of NATO played a crucial role in managing the arms race and preventing it from escalating into a full-scale war. Through diplomatic efforts and negotiations, NATO was able to maintain a delicate balance of power with the Soviets, avoiding a direct military conflict while also preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.
Overall, while the arms race did create a frightening threat of world annihilation, the technology and leadership of NATO ultimately helped to reduce the threat of war and maintain a balance of power with the Soviets for decades.