Able Archer Crisis

Question 1

when?

Answer 1

1983

Question 2

soviet reaction to ronald reagan election

Answer 2

• peace through strength
• reagan wants to teurn to previos anti communist policy
• soviets think US is re0adopting anti–soviet stance; breznev ignores reagans arms discussions
• soviets afraid of nuclear attack; alert other communits through warsaw pact
• andropov new leader; conducts nuclear submarine trials when regans makes ‘star wars speech’; taken as act of aggresion

Question 3

able archer 83

Answer 3

nato launches military excercizes to stimulate nuclear prepartion
-regan expected to partipciate but withdraws

Question 4

height of tension?

Answer 4

soviets shoot down 007 Korean Airlines Flight; killed everyone onboard; belief that it was an CIA plane
= this destorys USSR reputation and they refuse to take responsitiy
- soviets suspicious of Able Archer Crisis; on maxium alert and plant to send nuclear submarines (violation of Salt I agreements)

Question 5

Nato response

Answer 5

informs moscow that archer 83 just a similation; no real attack plans

Question 6

results

Answer 6

• soviets step down from maxiumum alertn
• new low between US-USSR relations (Andropov supicios of US)
• Reagan stunned; miscominications; wants to review diplomacy and enter discissions and disarment of nuclear weapons; needs willing soviet leader to cooperate