7- Attempts To Reduce Tensions Between East And West Flashcards
What is détente?
After the Cuban Missile crisis there was a move to improve relations which became known as détente
What was the conflict going on in the Middle East?
- Israeli had a victory in the Six day war of 1967
- Arab states were drawn more closely to the SU as Israel was supplied by USA
Explain what was going on in the Vietnam war?
- USA could not defeat the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong (used to describe Vietnamese communists)
- 1968: US wanted to end war
When did Nixon become president?
1969
What was ‘linkage’ and why was it so important to both the USA and the USSR?
- Was hoped that if the USA improved their trade + technology links+ made an offer in arms reduction, then Brezhnev might persuade his North Viet to end war
When did Nixon visit Moscow?
1972
What happens at Nixon’s visit to Moscow?
- Brenzhev didn’t want to see a Chinese + USA relation develop
- Nixon agreed to take part in a European Security conference , then afterwards the Helsinki agreements were made
How did Nixon show his commitment to détente after the Visit to Moscow?
Made a public declaration with the SU
When was peace between USA and North Vietnamese signed?
1973
What does SALT I stand for?
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks
What was SALT I?
Talks held in Union to attempt to limit arms race. Talks held in Vienna and Helsinki
What were ‘ABM’ systems and what was decided about then in SALT I?
- Anti-Ballistic missile Treaty
- Allowed at only 2 sites, each sites contains 100 missiles
- Designed to detect, track, intercept+ destroy intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs)
What was the SLBM?
Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles
What were the Limitations of SALT I?
- Did not limit the amount of strategic bombers
- No restriction on MIRVs (multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles)
- Each side was allowed to use satellites to make sure the other was not breaking the deal
When was the Yom Kippur war?
1973
The Yom Kippur war was a conflict between which states?
Syria + Egypt against Israel
How did the Yom Kippur war involve the USA and USSR?
Syria+ Egypt were supplied by SU
Israel were supplied by USA
What was the UN peacekeeping force?
An alternative plan to what Brenzhev said about a joint USA- USSR force to save the Egyptians form the Israel
- Allowed non-nuclear counties to be involved in the conflict
When did the Yom Kippur war end?
24th October 1973
When was Nixon’s 2nd Visit to Moscow?
July 1974
What did the leaders agree about at Nixon’s 2nd Visit to Moscow?
- To limit and eventually end the arms race- complete disarmament
- to develop a mutually beneficial co-operation in economic,scientific,technical+cultural fields
When was the space link up?
17th July 1975
Which 2 space crafts docked?
Apollo Soyuz- 3 US astronauts
Soviet Soyuz - 2 SU astronauts
Was a symbolic handshake
When was the Helsinki agreements signed?
1975
How many countries signed the Helsinki agreement?
USA, SU And 33 other nations
What declarations did the Helsinki agreement cover?
Security: SU accepted WG + recognition of Europe frontiers
Cooperation: closer economic + scientific + cultural links
Human rights: basic freedom right such as speech, religion etc
Who became the US president in 1977?
Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter sent a letter to Andrei Sakharov, why did this anger Brezhnev?
It was seen as interference in Soviet internal affairs+ he made this clear in his speech during the Helsinki talks
What happened to the relations between the 2 superpowers after the letter?
- Worsened
- Groups were sent to Eastern Europe aka Helsinki Groups
- They complained abt Soviet violations of 1975 agreements
How many African states receive Soviet weapons by 1980?
21
When did SALT II begin + when was treaty signed?
Began 1974
Signed, June 1979
What were the terms of SALT II?
- Limit of 2400 strategic nuclear delivery
- A 1329 limit on MIRV
Why was SALT II not ratified (agreed)by Congress?
- US Congress did not believe limits put forward could be verified.
- NATO placed long-range missiles in Europe
- SU invaded Afghanistan which ended détente
When did Gorbachev become SU leader?
March 1985
What was new abt Gorbachev?
- Was younger than his predecessors
- Prepared to adopt drastic changes to improve relations
Who was president of US when Gorbachev was leader?
Ronald Reagan
What did Gorbachev realise about communism in the SU?
- SU economy was not as efficient as US economy
- SU had a lot of consumer shortages
Explain what ‘new thinking’ was?
- Reform Gorbachev introduced + modernising socialism
- Perestrokia (restructuring), glasnost(openness)=reforms
- Ended arms race with US
- Abandoning the Brenzhev Doctrine
What were some other developments after the ‘new thinking’
- Banned books were published
- SU learned Stalin’s true nature
- Helped Gorbachev win support
Where was the summit conference held and when?
Geneva 1985
- Both Gorbachev and Reagan
Explains what the ‘Star Wars’ defence system was?
Reagan refused to give up Strategic Defence Initative ( SDI) which was often referred to as the Star Wars defence system
What did the leaders agree on in Geneva?
- Speed up arms talk
- Work toward abolition of chemical weapons
- Be more active of human rights
When was the summit meeting in Reykjavik?
1986, In Iceland
What happened at the summit in Reykjavik?
- Agreed to reductions in nuclear arsenals
- Had disagreements About SDI and ABM defence programme
When was the Intermediate- Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) signed?
1987
What did the INF treaty state?
- Eliminated nuclear and conventional ground launched ballistic missiles= range 500-5500 km
- By treaty deadline, 1 June 1991, 2692 weapons had been destroyed by USA and SU
- Both nations were allowed to inspect each other military instalments
What treaties were signed after INF?
- Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), 1989
- Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Arms (START I), 1991
- These built up to the end of the Cold War
Where was the final summit meeting held + when?
Moscow, May 1988
Explain what was ‘Gorbymania’
- The West made Gorbachev a pop star
- The wives of Gorbachev and Reagan has played a role of pushing the leaders together
