and difficutt politically, and progress has otEen been Painfully slot' still, in an historical contexE, the very fact. of negotiations on Ehis subject was {idely vieved as a positive sign. Never before have teo Staees devoted so nuch effort. for so long a p€riod of tine, in an attempt Eo restrain nj.litary forces believed to be central to their national security. 162. At the sane Eine, lhe results of arns linitalion talks have not matched the expectations of rorld public opinion or satisfied the proponents of the negotiatingprocess, rndeed, since 1969r ehen Ehe carks began, the nunber of bonba and warheads deployed by the tlro sides in their strategic forces has increased at an alarming rate, Iargely as a resulE of the introduction of nultiple sarheads on nissiles. Deternined etforts for drastic reduction of, nuclear arsenaLs are urgenEly needed. I53. The bilateral negotiations that began in ceneva in 1985 have as their aqreed subject a conpl€x of questions concerning space and nuclear arns, boeh strateglc and intermediate range, eich all Ehe quescions considered and resolved in their inter rela tionship and as their agreed objectives to r.otk out effective aqreenenEs ained at preventing an arns race in outer space and Eerninating it on earth, and Iiniting and reducing nucl.ear arrns and at strengthening strateqic stability' 164. The United States and the Soviet Union have certain shared interests. Pre-eninent arbng these conmn interests is the avoidance of nuclear $ar. Neither sociely faces any greater danger to its securiEy and even its survival. Consequently ' this one sbared key objective shouLd be the doninanC guideline tor negotiations, thus rExinizing lhe prospecls for nutual co-operation and reducing poli Eical confl icts. 165. Today the sorLd finds itself on the verge of a najor arns race in outer
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing international relations and diplomacy, specifically the efforts of the United States and the Soviet Union to negotiate and reduce their nuclear arsenals. The language used is formal and technical, suggesting a focus on policy and strategy rather than economic or social issues.

**Category**
International trade, Science and technology