Intercontinental ballistic missiles

Definition

Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are long-range weapons designed to deliver nuclear warheads over distances greater than 5,500 kilometers (approximately 3,400 miles). These missiles are launched from land or submarine platforms and can reach their targets within minutes, making them a critical component of strategic military arsenals during the Cold War, especially in the context of U.S.-Soviet relations and nuclear deterrence.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. ICBMs became a significant aspect of U.S. defense policy during the Cold War as a countermeasure against Soviet nuclear capabilities.
2. The first successful test of an ICBM by the United States was conducted in 1955, while the Soviet Union followed shortly after with its own tests.
3. ICBMs can carry multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), allowing one missile to strike several targets simultaneously.
4. The development of ICBMs escalated tensions during the Cold War, leading to arms control negotiations such as the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT).
5. Nixon's foreign policy of détente aimed to reduce tensions with the Soviet Union and involved strategic arms limitation discussions that directly addressed ICBM capabilities.

Review Questions

• How did intercontinental ballistic missiles influence U.S. foreign policy during Nixon's presidency?
  • Intercontinental ballistic missiles significantly influenced U.S. foreign policy during Nixon's presidency by heightening concerns over nuclear deterrence and arms escalation. The existence of ICBMs increased the urgency for strategic arms control negotiations with the Soviet Union. Nixon's administration pursued détente, seeking to establish a more stable balance of power and reduce the risk of nuclear confrontation through treaties like SALT, which specifically targeted ICBM proliferation.
• In what ways did the development of ICBMs contribute to the concept of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)?
  • The development of intercontinental ballistic missiles played a crucial role in solidifying the concept of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) during the Cold War. With both superpowers capable of launching ICBMs that could reach each other's territories within minutes, it created a scenario where any nuclear attack would likely be met with devastating retaliation. This balance led both nations to rely on deterrence strategies rather than direct military confrontation, as the stakes involved were overwhelmingly high.
• Evaluate how intercontinental ballistic missiles shaped international relations beyond U.S.-Soviet tensions during the Cold War.
  • Intercontinental ballistic missiles had a profound impact on international relations beyond just U.S.-Soviet tensions by prompting other nations to pursue their own nuclear capabilities for deterrence. Countries like China, France, and the United Kingdom developed their own ICBM programs in response to perceived threats and regional security needs. This proliferation led to increased global tensions and debates around non-proliferation treaties, shaping diplomatic efforts and alliances during and after the Cold War as nations navigated the complexities of nuclear politics.

Related terms

Nuclear Deterrence: A military strategy aimed at preventing adversaries from taking action by the threat of retaliatory nuclear strike.

Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD): A doctrine that holds that full-scale use of nuclear weapons by two or more opposing sides would result in the complete annihilation of both the attacker and the defender.

Cold War:

The period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States, along with their respective allies, after World War II, marked by an arms race and ideological conflict.