How did the Cold War shape nuclear strategy in the United States and the Soviet Union?

During the Cold War, nuclear strategy between the United States and the Soviet Union evolved from an initial focus on massive retaliation to a complex doctrine of mutual assured destruction (MAD). This principle was founded on the belief that the threat of overwhelming nuclear retaliation would deter either superpower from initiating an attack, as both sides would face total annihilation.123

To ensure this deterrent capability, the United States developed the nuclear triad, consisting of manned bombers, land-based ballistic missiles, and nuclear submarines, designed to guarantee a second strike even after a preemptive attack. Conversely, Soviet doctrine often emphasized using nuclear weapons in a traditional military manner to achieve decisive advantages, though they eventually recognized the difficulty of limiting nuclear exchanges.14

The Cuban missile crisis served as a pivotal moment, highlighting the dangers of nuclear brinkmanship and leading to arms-control efforts like the Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty and SALT. By the 1980s, leaders like Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev shifted toward START, prioritizing deep cuts in arsenals over mere limitation, ultimately reflecting a shared recognition that nuclear war could not be won.534