Chapter Twenty-Two Flashcards
What did Gorbachev understand regarding the Cold War?
That the possession of a large number of nuclear weapons did not guarentee security for a state- achievement of security through pol and econ processes, not mil expansion. End to Cold War= necessary.
Wanted to redefine the basis of superpower relations.
= result was a resumption of the summit diplomacy of the past.
What was Reagan’s position regarding the Cold War?
Usually associated with a strong anti-Communist stance but he, too wanted to change the American relationship with the Soviet Union.
Fears of nuclear warfare and was keen to resume discussions with the SU if they could result in arms limitations.
What happened November 1985?
The two leaders decided to meet in Geneva, realising they both had similar goals.
For the first time, Soviet leaders were in a position to accept military cuts without demanding comparable cuts from the USA. This shift was of fundamrntal importance in enabling agreement to be made on Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) in 1987.
What was discussed at the Geneva Conference November 1985?
Much anticipation of how the two leaders would react to each other: 3000 journalists covered meeting.
General agreement to work towards goal of cutting nuc weapons by 50% discussed collaboration to end nuclear proliferation, maintain control over these weapons.
No concrete outcomes but they were getting along. Gorbachev had removed the ideological split between the East and West as a factor in international relations.
Issue: Reagan’s idea of the SDI- constant source of tension.
What occurred at the Reykjavik meeting in October 1986?
Purpose was to put Soviet-US relations back on track and in many respects the summit achieved this- overlooked due to lack of concrete agreements made regarding arms reductions.
Gorbachev would not discuss elimination of nuc weapons unless Reagan agreed to abandon plans for SDI.
But summit was productive- clear that both sides wanted arms reductions and both sides had limits to what they would abandon. Gorbachev detached disarmament from any demands on SDI in future.
Also discussed human rights and humanitarian issues.
What happened at the Washington Summit, December 1987?
Gorbachev and Reagan signed the INF Treaty.
Regarded as the most significant step taken by USA and USSR to bring arms race to end.
Ended se of all intermediate-range ballistic and cruise missiles
Soviets had more nuclear weapons at this point, but not as powerful as that of the US.
Viewed as a success by all accounts, sense of optimism regarding disarmament and nuclear reductions. The Cold War truly seemed to be ending.
What was the significance of the INF Treaty?
First time the USA and SU agreed to remove a whole class of nuclear weapons.
SU made no demands that the treaty was to be conditional on the USA withdrawing from SDI.
Soviet U also made no demands that it should be able to retain missiles as defence against China.
SU also accepted British and French nuc weapons need not be part of the overall deal.
What was the Moscow Summit May-June 1988?
Official goal was to agree to START. Having agreed to INF Treaty, it seemed logical to expect START to be signed in Moscow. Big things were expected as it was Reagan’s final year in office.
Instead, the focus was on cultural exchanges and human rights.
7 agreements signed including fishing rights but START remained an issue.
Importantly: Summit gave Reagan opportunity to gain access to Russian people. Public appearances to gain their support- also increased support for Gorbachev’s regime.
Why was Reagan so invested in ‘Star Wars’?
From the beginning of his presidency, Reagan was concerned about the alarming build up of Soviet arms that occurred in the 1970s. Feared the new Cold War so sought a means of eliminating the threat posed by nucleare weapons.
(Named Star Wars because critics within the US felt that the technology would be impossible to build)
What was the SDI project?
Proposed the creation of a sophisticated anti-nuclear defence system that could destroy nuclear weapons in space, before they reached their targets. A number of study groups were established, funding provided to explore the possibilities of providing protection from nuc war for USA.
Why were the Soviets so concerned about the SDI project?
Although it was never developed, Soviet leadership even before Gorbachev feared American possession of this technology.
The US would have the ability to destroy Soviet nuclear weapons before they reached their traget, giving it a de facto nuclear monopoly.
Although experts in the US felt that there was no way that SDI would work, the Soviets themselves feared that it would, and continued to heavily fund their nuclear weapons programmes to remain competitive and deter West from action.
What was the reaction of Western Europe to the SDI?
Britain and France were sceptical. Neither leaders viewed SDI as a real threat, yet they understood that it could exacerbate Cold War tensions.
NATO leaders supported the development of SDI, with Thatcher and West German Chancellor strongly supporting the programme.
Alarmed many Communisyt hardliners as Gorbachev was willing to abandon SDI.
What was an impact of SDI on Gorbachev’s leadership?
Needed to justify cordial relations with the USA even though it appeared to be building an anti-Soviet weapons system.
When was George Bush elected President?
November 1988, and took office in January 1989.
What did Bush realise regarding US-Soviet relations?
If US-SOivet relations were to be managed, it was essential that Gorbachev remained strong to the USSR; therefore the US should do nothing to undermine the stability of his position as Soviet leader.
His focus was upon international stability, and he saw Gorbachev’s leadership as the most effective way to preserve that. Bush and Gorbachev appeared like-minded in the goal of renewed detente.
