chapters hoff these arsenals have been lntarged and how different strategic doctrines have been adopted at different times by each super*Power to provide what vas tbought to be necessary to enhance and protect its national security' one concern has been the possibilitl' that one of the super-Povers woul-d attain "nuclear -"p."i."fiy: " r,ot.lr-y. iit terns of a first-sirike capability that could be used to eliminate the s'urategrc weapons of the other' A second eonsirleration pertains to the instability of the nutuil deterrence situation' how political' technical or hunan mistahes coufd unl-eash a strategic exchange with vast consequences ' 35r. If one super' Power l'Iere to achieve "nuclear supericrity" in some meaningful and lasting sense (if that is possible), there would ' in effect' be only one nuclear super-Pover, tiii, tf" lo''"tqot""'" that this might have for inte:rnational relations, ft is ttrerefort not surpiising ttrat neither seems confiCent that the cther has eschewed th.-;;;i oi ""p"tiotitv' Even when the tvo a€lrec to avoid uneclual- capabilities, "1"r, co"=iAlrs that its national security depends on theA/35/392 English Annex Page 11f continual inprovenent of its forces in ord.er to match, or keep ahead of, comparableimprovements in the otherrs forces. At the same time, it ro,.,id "u.r virtua-uyinpossible to attain nuclear superiority when the strategic forces are as numerous,dispersed and protected as at piesent. -The argument is more forceful in theopposite direction: because of the vast m:nbers of strategic nuclear weapons in existence" it should be possible to undertake a naJor arms reduction without jeopardizing the national security of the two super povers.
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the strategic doctrines and national security concerns of superpowers, particularly the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War era. The focus is on the development and deployment of nuclear weapons, the concept of nuclear superiority, and the potential consequences of a nuclear arms race. The language used is technical and formal, suggesting a context of international relations and strategic studies.

**Category**
International relations, Science and technology