In the given question, a statement of Assertion is followed by a statement of Reason. Mark the correct answer.

Assertion: The superpowers- The USA and USSR did not need any allies at all during the Cold War.

Reason: With their nuclear weapons and regular armies, they were so powerful that the combined power of most of the smaller states in Asia and Africa, and even in Europe, was no match to that of the superpowers.

The Assertion is incorrect but the Reason is correct.

One may ask why the superpowers needed any allies at all. After all, with their nuclear weapons and regular armies, they were so powerful that the combined power of most of the smaller states in Asia and Africa, and even in Europe, was no match to that of the superpowers. Yet, the smaller states were helpful for the superpowers in gaining access to (i) vital resources, such as oil and minerals, (ii) territory, from where the superpowers could launch their weapons and troops, (iii) locations from where they could spy on each other, and (iv) economic support, in that many small allies together could help pay for military expenses.