4:16 Foreign affairs Flashcards
Which issue dominated British foreign policy in the early 1980s?
The Falkland Islands - a minor part of Britain’s retreat from Empire
When did General Galtieri, leader of the Argentinian military junta, sent an invasion force to occupy the Falklands?
April 1982
As a result, who resigned?
Lord Carrington, the Foreign Secretary, who had advised against pulling out HMS Endurance which prompted the invasion
What situation did the British government face?
To attempt to win back the Falkland Islands would be very difficult and dangerous
However, what was Thatcher’s response?
She immediately announced that a naval task force would be sent to remove the Argentine forces and assert the right of the Falkland Islanders to self-determination. This was very risky and could have ended in disaster.
What impact did this decision have on the public opinion of Thatcher?
Her previously unpopular government was now soaring in the opinion polls.
It also inspired a patriotic national mood in the British people
Despite the task force being sent, there were still diplomatic efforts between governments to get Argentina to pull its troops back. However, the chance of peaceful settlement disappeared on…
2nd May, when a British submarine sank the Argentine battleship, General Belgrano, causing heavy loss of life.
What was the controversial response to this?
Many anti-war protestors claimed that the sinking was unnecessary and was purposely strategized to finish off the chances of a peaceful outcome.
Why was it necessary to get support from the United States?
It would be impossible to fight battles 8000 miles from home without the use of American bases like Ascension Island
Unlike Suez in 1956, the US…
gave the green light to go ahead, which strengthened the special relationship and the personal ties between Thatcher and Reagan
What significant loss did the British task force suffer?
4th May: an air-launched Exocet missile destroyed the British warship HMS Sheffield
From then on, American diplomatic intervention was crucial in…
preventing the Argentine forces from obtaining enough missiles to severely weaken the British task force
How was British victory indicated?
21st May - British troops landed at San Carlos Water, the passage between the East and West Falkland. Once the landings were secured, victory was certain.
14th June - the Argentine forces surrender
What did Thatcher’s critics say about the war?
It was unnecessary because Britain would end up negotiating a deal with Argentina over the Falklands anyway.
What was the impact on Britain’s position in the world?
In the 1970s, Britain’s international position had seemed to be in decline. There was now a resurgence of national pride in Britain.
Furthermore, the Falklands War made it even less likely that Britain would…
force the people of Gibraltar to accept being handed to Spain
Thatcher had a strong bond with…
Ronald Reagan, both personal and ideological
The Thatcher-Reagan link was especially powerful throughout the 1980s…
during the Falklands War, deploying Cruise missiles and being tough with the USSR.
In 1986, Thatcher gave permission for the US to…
use British air bases to bomb Libya, despite it being an unpopular decision in Britain
However, they still had some disagreements. In 1983…
the US invaded Grenada after a Communist coup, going against Thatcher’s advice
What was the Cold War situation in the late 1970s?
The West seemed to be losing. However, they didn’t realise just how weak the USSR was becoming.
When Soviet forces invaded Afghanistan in 1979…
it was thought in the West that this was a dangerous threat to Western interests.
In reality, it was a disastrous decision, bleeding away what was left of Soviet military strength.
After the opening of Soviet archives from 1991…
it became obvious that the Soviet Union was on its last legs by the early 1980s
Between 1979-1985…
nobody in the West knew how weak the Soviet Union was at the time
Who were the three new ‘cold warriors’ who emerged in the early 1980s?
Thatcher, Pope John Paul II and Ronald Reagan
They were each determined to challenge Soviet power, both militarily and ideologically
It was as if a new era of the Cold War was beginning:
marked by tough rhetoric and rising tension
Thatcher’s willingness to support the US in the Cold War efforts was demonstrated in…
her agreement to the deployment of US cruise missiles in Britain
With increased international tension, there developed…
genuine fear of nuclear war between the East and the West
How did the government respond to these fears?
They published ‘Protect and Survive’ booklets which told people what to do in the event of a nuclear attack
These fears were also reflected in popular culture…
The BBC drama ‘Threads’ in 1984 portrayed the aftermath of a nuclear conflict in Britain
In 1983, there was a march in London with…
CND, opposing nuclear weapons. 200,000 marched
Similar demonstrations were held across Europe…
there was a march with 600,000 in West Germany
What were the three factors in Thatcher’s contribution to ending the Cold War?
- Her combative style and determination to confront the USSR in the early 1980s
- Her willingness to negotiate with the new reformist Soviet leader, Gorbachev, from 1985
- Her foreign policy, founded on the special relationship with the US
Gorbachev became leader of the Soviet Union in 1985. He made a remarkable impression on…
the hard-line conservatives, Thatcher and Reagan
Thatcher encouraged Reagan to negotiate with Gorbachev and as a result…
in 1986, at the Reykjavik summit, Reagan and Gorbachev discovered that each was willing to make compromises.
Although this meeting ended without agreement, it paved the way for future progress.
What major step was taken in 1987?
The Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty was signed in Washington.
What did the treaty entail?
It limited short-range weapons and began a process of mutual disarmament
Although the Cold War had not ended…
for the first time in years, it appeared an end might be possible
What is meant by ‘handbag diplomacy’?
It was used to describe Thatcher’s more abrasive style of negotiation in comparison to the more measured and patient negotiations that was more usual for Foreign Office diplomats
What did this mean in the context of Europe relations?
Thatcher’s style caused some conflict and clashed with the consensual politics of other European leaders.
However, there were still many circumstances where Britain cooperated closely with Europe.
Content summary:
> The causes of the Falklands War
Thatcher’s response to the Falklands conflict
Thatcher and Reagan
