4.16 Foreign affairs, 1979-87 Flashcards
When did the Foreign Secretary, Lord Carrington, and Defence Secretary, John Nott, approve the withdrawal of HMS Endurance?
1981 - leaving the South Atlantic without any British naval presence
When did Argentinian forces invade the Falkland Islands?
April 1982
what was the effect of Thatcher’s immediate announcement that a naval task force would be sent?
Sent her previously unpopular government soaring in the opinion polls
When was the Battleship … sunk?
General Belgrano - sank on 2 May 1982
When did Argentinian forces surrender?
14 June 1982
What did Thatcher give permission for the US to do in 1986?
use British airbases to bomb Libya, despite it being an unpopular decision in Britain
What US decision showed the differences between Thatcher and Reagan?
In 1983, the US invaded Grenada after a communist coup, against the advice of Thatcher
By the late 1970s + Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, what seemed to be happening?
West seemed to be losing the Cold War + Afghanistan a dangerous threat to Western interests
What really happened in Cold War due to Afghanistan?
The invasion of Afghanistan was disastrous for the USSR, bleeding away what was left of Soviet military might - the Soviet archives released in 1991 showed that the USSR was on its last legs by the early 1980s, hopelessly overstretched
Between 1979 and 1981, what 3 new ‘cold warriors’ emerged?
British PM
American President
Polish Pope (JPII)
each determined to challenge USSR militarily + ideologically
When was the ‘new Cold War’?
1979-87
Invasion of Afghanistan -> Gorbachev (1985), launching perestroika and glasnost (1986) + meeting with Reagan in Reykjavik (1986)
In 1983, how many people marched with the CND in London to oppose nuclear weapons?
1983, 200,000 people marched in London with CND
In what ways did Thatcher contribute to ending the Cold War?
- combative style + determination to confront the USSR in the early 1980s
- willingness to negotiate with the reformist Gorbachev from 1985
- her foreign policy was founded on special relationship
When did Thatcher and Gorbachev meet for the first time? Impression?
1984 - ‘I like Mr Gorbachev’, ‘He and I can do business together’
What did Thatcher encourage Reagan to do?
to negotiate with Gorbachev - in 1896, at Reykjavik summit, G + R discovered that each were prepared to make compromises (although meeting ended w/o agreement, paved the way for future)
What treaty limited short-range weapons + began a process of mutual disarmament? When?
1987, Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
What was Thatcher’s ‘handbag diplomacy’?
Thatcher’s more abrasive style of negotiation (compared to that of Foreign Office diplomats)
What was Thatcher’s first priority in Europe?
to secure a better EEC deal for Britain (Britain was paying much more to the EEC than was being returned in benefits)
When was Thatcher successful in getting Britain a rebate?
1984 - played well at home/ but annoyed some of European partners
On what did French President Mitterrand and Thatcher cooperate closely over?
The Channel Tunnel project, agreed in 1986 and opening in 1994
In … Thatcher negotiated the … with the other members of the EEC
In 1986 Thatcher negotiated the Single European Act with the other members of the EEC
What did the Single European Act do?
changed the Assembly into the European Parliament + mentioned the possibility of future European monetary union (for Thatcher + supporters - would make a free market in Europe a reality)
Cabinet views on Europe?
during 1980s, most cabinet ministers were pro-European + favoured its expansion - the creation and strengthening of a European free market was in line with Thatcherite economic goals
What was the Westland Affair? When?
who should take over the failing British helicopter company Westland
- Michael Heseltine - favoured takeover from European consortium
- Thatcher favoured no intervention, even if would go to US company Sikorsky
- Heseltine believed Thatcher blocked discussion about the decision in cabinet –> stormed out cabinet meeting + resigned
(Thatcher later said it was closest she ever came to resigning)
