Chapter Eighteen Flashcards
What moves had the USSR and the USA made so far, regarding limiting the development and use of nuclear weapons during the 1960s?
1963 Moscow Test Ban Treaty and the 1968 Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Soviet intervention in Czechoslovakia stalled this process (Prague Spring 1968)
The effort to manage nuclear weapons was resumed 1969 and reached some degree of agreement by May 1972 (SALT I and in December The Basic Treaty)
What was the Anti-Ballistic Misile Treaty?
Strategiv Arms Limitation Talks.
The Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, May 1972 - limited USSR and USA to constructing two fields of AMBs, each with no more than 100 missiles. Restricted strategic value of AMBS. Made the race to develop offensive strategic nuclear weapons less critical. Showed that both of the superpowers recognised the other’s destructive power and each had an interest in preventing what would be a mutually destructive conflict.
What was the Interim Agreement on the Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms?
SALT 1
May 1972
Linked strategic offensive and defensive arms agreements. Complimented AMB Treaty, established a freeze on strategic missiles. Valid for five years.
No limitations on newly developing technology (esp MIRVS).
No defined limits on cruise missile systems.
Was only interim and it was due to expire in 1977 (five years)
What were the impacts of the SALT 1 agreements?
Reinforced the political advantages to be gained by national leaders if they backed policies that created greater stability and the prospects of international peace.
Foundation of a political achievement that made Detente possible. Opened the way for an era of negotiation rather tan confrontation.
USA accepted nuclear parity between the two states. Important step in international relations- both had something to gain from Detente. Balance of power acknowledged and this necessitated the construction of a new non-confrontational relationship- Detente.
What was the ‘Basic Principles of Relations beteen the United States and the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics’?
Agreed at the Moscow Summit in May 1972, in addition to the SALT I agreements.
1. Effort to be made by both states toward peaceful coexistence, relations based on equality and non-interference on internal affairs and mutual advantage.
2. Prevent nuclear war. Restraint exercised in their mutual relations. Settle differneces by peaceful means.
3. Do not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.
These principles had no legal status. The Soviet Union took them a lot more seriously than the USA. Recognised parity between them. Both sides desired a more wide-ranging and lasting agreement to be made (SALT II).
What was the Vladivostok Summit, November 1974?
Agreement was reached on a framework for a ten year plan. Preliminary move towards a future SALT II treaty.
Soviets agreed to equal levels of ICBM launchers and SLBM launchers- despite internal opposition in the USA due to high levels of weapons being retained, and gains made by SU, congress passed resolutions supporting agreement in eb 1975.
Why was it clear that there would be no smooth transition between the Vladivostok agreement and SALT II?
The USA argued that the limit on air-to-surface missiles applied only to ballistic missiles while the SU argued it included cruise missiles- issues of clarification.
When Kissinger returned from Vladivostok he faced opposition within US and new proposals were forced onto Kissinger and backed by Ford. Brezhnev rejected this new approach.
In 1976 it was also the year of the presidential elections, meaning no firm agreement would be reached them.
What hinderence did Jimmy Carter’s presidency have on SALT II agreements?
He wanted to establish a far more ambitious arms reduction programme for SALT II due to considerable pressure from public opinion and his own advisers e.g Brzezinski, to adopt a hard line position on arms reductions from the USSR.
Unveiled new proposal to the USSR, different to Vladivostok agreement, which Brezhnev had believed was binding. He therefore believed that Carter was acting in a unilateral and unacceptable manner. Proposals demanded a disproportionate reduction in Soviet forces so he rejected them. Regarded the Carter administration as trying to move away from Detente.
What was the Vienna Summit, June 1979?
SALT II agreement- despite all the hindrance, both Soviet Union and the USA wanted the SALT II agreements to proceed. The summit allowed the Soviet and American leaderships to talk and communicate directly with each other rather than through intermediaries.
What was Ostpolitik?
Term used to define a new approach to European East-West relations. Willy Brandt was appointed as chancellor of West Germany in 1969 and he chose to abandon the Hallstein Doctrine, wanted to recognised East Germany.
Strategy was to negotiate with SU, settle frontier wth Poland and negotiate with German Democratic Republic.
What agreements did Willy establish?
Joint non-aggression pact with Brezhnev 1970 and then later that year he signed a treaty with Poland recognising the border.
Then, in 1972 Honecker and Willy signed an agreement formally recognising each other- Basic Treaty.
How was the process towards establishing Ostpolitik furthered in May 1971?
Walter Ulbricht resigned (leader of Com party in Demo Republic). Replaced by Honecker. With this shift in leadership there was a shift in relations.
How did European Detente affect Kissinger?
He realised that the USA mus develop detente with the Soviet Union in order to prevent a West German detente from marginalising US influence in Europe. Didn’t want to undermine US superpower influence.
What was the Basic Treaty?
December 1972
An attempt in some measure, to normalise relations between the two Germanies. Normal, good-neighbourly relations, equal rights, guided by aims in UN Charter and they will settle disputes peacefully. Also a potential commitment to economic relations.
Critical moment in European detente. Route by which other European nations could establish relations with the GDR.
By the end of Sep 1973, both FRG and GDR were members of the UN.
What was the Helsinki Final Act 1975?
Final meeting of the Confereence on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE). Highest point of European Detente with the convening of a European security conference attended by all major Eastern and Western European countries and USA. 35 states. Main parts of agreement divided into baskets.
Basket I: security in Europe (respect for sovereignty and equality among states, peace, no use of force)
Basket II: Cooperation in the Field of Economics, of Science and Technology and of the Environment
Basket III: Cooperation in Humanitarian and Other Fields. Free movement of people, information and ideas- CAPITALIST.
