Answer:
mutual destruction through nuclear warfare
Explanation:
During the Cold War, the biggest reason the US and the Soviet Union (USSR) did not start a war with each other was the fear of mutual destruction through nuclear warfare. Both superpowers possessed large nuclear arsenals, and the concept of "mutually assured destruction" made the prospect of an all-out war too risky for either side to contemplate. This led to a policy of deterrence, where both nations sought to maintain a balance of power and avoid direct military conflict
