Why do arms-control advocates view cooperation between rival countries as necessary?

Arms-control advocates view cooperation between rival countries as essential because they operate on the premise that weapons and the military organizations built around them can themselves drive conflict, rather than war originating solely from political disagreements. By fostering collaboration, states can interrupt this autonomous logic of conflict.1

The primary objectives of this cooperation are to:

• Reduce the risks of war: By establishing confidence-building measures, such as communication hotlines and transparency initiatives, rivals can decrease the fear, anxiety, and misunderstandings that lead to escalation.2
• Limit destructiveness: Cooperation allows antagonistic states to agree on constraints regarding the development, testing, and deployment of weapons, thereby diminishing the likelihood of war or limiting its severity should it occur.3
• Manage military burdens: Through treaties and agreements, rivals can stabilize arms races and reduce the economic and strategic pressures of maintaining excessive arsenals.14

Ultimately, arms control rests on the ethical principle that even competitive states must engage in diplomacy to prevent the catastrophic consequences of unchecked military expansion and nuclear devastation.314