Final answer:
B) Arms race, referring to the competition between nations to amass superior weapons. This was notably seen during the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, encompassing both nuclear and conventional weaponry.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term is B) Arms race.
An arms race is a competitive quest between nations to build superior weapons systems. During the early 20th century militarism, European powers were rapidly building up their military arsenals. However, it was during the Cold War period, post-World War II, between the United States and the Soviet Union, that the term arms race became synonymous with the development and stockpiling of nuclear weapons. Both nations accelerated their nuclear weapons programs, including hydrogen bombs, ballistic missiles, and submarines, to establish military superiority. This relentless competition was fuelled by a strategy of deterrence to prevent the first strike by showcasing an immense retaliatory capacity—coining the term 'mutually assured destruction' (MAD). The arms race also contributed to an increase in conventional military capabilities such as battleships, submarines, and fighter jets.