The major global event characterized by the competition for nuclear dominance is the Cold War, which spanned from the end of World War II to the early 1990s. This ideological struggle primarily involved the United States and the Soviet Union, leading to an arms race focused on the development and stockpiling of nuclear weapons. Both superpowers engaged in numerous proxy wars, espionage, and significant military buildups, heightening global tensions. The pursuit of nuclear superiority paralleled advancements in aerospace technology, culminating in events like the Cuban Missile Crisis, which brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.