How did the arms race and the us Strategic Defense Initiative affect the Soviet Union?

The arms race, particularly the U.S. Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) launched in the 1980s, placed immense economic and military pressure on the Soviet Union. The SDI aimed to develop a space-based missile defense system, which the Soviets perceived as a threat that required them to increase their military spending significantly. This escalation strained the already faltering Soviet economy and contributed to internal dissent, ultimately playing a role in the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. The competition in military technology highlighted the USSR's economic weaknesses and inability to keep pace with U.S. advancements.