I've heard the bluff claim among historians and I think there is truth to that, though the "make them outspend" motif is more contentious. From https://science

I've heard the bluff claim among historians and I think there is truth to that, though the "make them outspend" motif is more contentious. From https://scienceandglobalsecurity.org/archive/2017/01/did_star_wars_help_end_the_col.html https://scienceandglobalsecurity.org/archive/2017/01/did_sta...: > The evidence suggests that although the Soviet Union expressed serious concerns about U.S. missile defense program, SDI was not a decisive factor in advancing arms control negotiations. Instead, the program seriously complicated U.S.-Soviet arms control process. SDI also failed to dissuade the Soviet Union from investing in development of ballistic missiles. The Soviet Union quickly identified ways to avoid a technological arms race with the United States and focused on development of advanced missiles and anti-satellite systems to counter missile defenses.