than those of the two ;";;"-P;;t;" ' sti1l' -these arsenals are far from insignificant ana incruai bottr fission and fusion weapons that could cause vast i*"E. "-p".ticu1arly if used against urban targets'A/35/392 English Annex Page 119 355. fne States which acquired a nediun_ level nuclear capability did not neoessari.t* do so solelv for the purpose or neetins their requirerents or "., i.".i. - j"lii ii;*t-'u as they vere perceived. A concern for-national prestige may also have been rel-evant ' fn the case of France there vas the added desire to secure at the same time a capability which might provicle . ,"u=,rr"-ot. independence from the united states deterrent. Like-the u"it";-;;;;;.m) 'rance also sought to exert a certain influence on the use of that deteneni. ivevertheless, once nuclear_ lreaDons were acquired" thei.r possession and the ensuing irnplica_tions have come to have a principal bearing on the naticnar security of the nediuxrlevel*nuclearweapon Powexs. 366. h is evident from the large difference in the nurnber of nucl-ear weapons available to the t\'ro sides that the possibility of deterring a nuclear attach by a super-Por./er d.epends on the mediu::-leiref pover ieing credillJ .d. io*iniU"t significant retaliatory danage on "i"rii"" i""ilt". ilith a vulnerable nuctear force a counter'-value strategy I'r'ou'd need t.-i"ry on a first "l"itu-Jg;rrr"t t,r" super-Polrer l/ith its nuclear \{eapons in an SlBl.{_system, on the cther hand, the concern of a uedi'n-levef nucr-ear^weapon state vould be irr. ror.g.-t"r^ protectionand the- survivability of that system. Anti-submarine r,rarfare is an area of intense research and development by the super*Forrers. tr'ron the vier"rycinb of national security- the isolated deterrence capability of the rnedi'ra-1-evel nuclea.-on."por. states thus rests on even more uncertain foundations than those or ttaa -".lrp""rpo\,rers ,
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the topic of nuclear weapons and their impact on national security, with a focus on the nuclear capabilities of France and other countries. It mentions the development of nuclear arsenals, the potential for deterrence, and the concerns surrounding the possession and use of these weapons. The text also touches on the idea of national prestige and the desire for independence from other countries' deterrents.

**Category**
Science and technology, International relations