UN General Assembly
1960

52. Military balance of power is considered a strong peace-preserving factor, but this balance is always a precarious one, jeopardized by a continued armaments race. Each group is trying to meet the threat by staking enormous scientific and technical resources on staying in the lead in the production of new weapons and in inventing new methods of getting them to the target. The process of disarmament, too, involves a risk of upsetting the balance of power. Fears that an agreement on disarmament might shift the balance of power have until now outweighed the fears felt about continued rearmament. That is no doubt the main reason why it has not been possible so far to conclude an agreement.