Question

How did the Soviet Union respond to the US policy of brinkmanship?

Answer 1

Hint: Brinkmanship is the policy of literally pushing a situation to the possibility of its worst possible outcome. This was used by the American strategic forces mostly during the Cold War to make the other states concede to its demands. The threat of nuclear war, economic barriers, trade restrictions etc were shown as such a near possibility that the other state would give in to save themselves from such risks.

Complete answer: The policy of brinkmanship was used by the US to deter Soviet Union from their prospects by warning them that the possibile of outcome of their deeds could cost them massively and the consequences would be far worse.

The example of the Cuban Missile Crisis is one of the foremost of this strategic use. The war seemed like a real possibility and the situation seemed out of hand. Still, a hot war was kept under control by pushing the boundaries alone and Soviet Union taking out its missiles from Cuba.

Anyhow, after every attempt at brinkmanship, the USSR strengthened its nuclear capabilities and started interveing more and more in third world countries to control their affairs and ideologically inclined them towards communism. Even though Soviet Union disintegrated, it strategically responded very harshly to the US in most matters.

Note: During the presidency of Donald Trump, his attempt at threatening North Korea with nuclear missiles and worsening the tensions between the two countries instead of easing them is seen as an attempt to the policy of brinkmanship.