Consequences of Détente Flashcards
Positives (1)
Impact of SALT I
- Salt I (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks) 1969, illustrated the rapid development of new military technology i.e ICBM, which threatened the stability of both superpowers. -> although the conference limited physical objectives it greatly reduced tensions by addressing the narrow missile gap and its cost on both economies.
- Talks finished in 1972 in a ‘five year freeze’ of production of ICBM, SLBM and long range bombers, although no overall agreement on offensive weapons -> SALT II and further agreements.
- USA held a massive lead in AMB’s system, therefore leading to USSR to compensate to prevent further spending and development of ABM -> both sides to agree to only two ABM sites with no more than 100 missile launchers
- Illustrations shift away from early cold war hostility -> continued process of arms control evident in the 1973 Brezhnev visit to USSSA and Nixon 1974 visit to Moscow which would later precipitate in SALT II + upgrading of the ‘hotline’ established after 1962 Cuban crisis
The basic principles agreement (May 22-30 1972):
- Ordered by the UN to attempt to stabilise their relationship, they both agreed on these three principles in order to facilitate the continuation of detente and or the end of the Cold War. With Kissinger highlighting it underscored their aim to stabilise international relations and prevent direct military actions.
- Improved Diplomatic Relations: Established a framework for peaceful coexistence, emphasising the resolution of conflicts through negotiation and diplomacy.
Arms Limitation: Both nations committed to arms control, leading to agreements aimed at reducing strategic weapons and promoting disarmament.
- Economic and Cultural Cooperation: Enhanced commercial, scientific, and cultural exchanges, fostering better mutual understanding and cooperation in various fields.
Positives (2)
Ostpolitik:
- October 1969: SPD won West Germany election, resulting in the end of the hardline anti-communist policies, leading to the pursuit of Ostpolitik (reunification of Germany)
- The nullification of the 1955 ‘Hallstein Doctrine’ (West German entered diplomatic with states recognition Eastern Germany) due to Henry Kissinger seeking relaxed tensions in Europe.
- Similarly, the Treaty of Moscow 1970 renounced the use of force by the Eastern bloc, highlighting the collaborative approach to reduce tensions.
- Basic Treaty of 1972 with East Germany, established formal, normalised relations between both German states -> resulting in cooling of tensions, and the end of arguments over territorial borders, which would prevent further events such as the CheckPoint Charlie standoff of 1961 or Berlin Airlift.
Helsinki: 1975 AD
- “it is just a grandstand play to the left” Kissinger -> USA cause for attending, with a firm stance on not accepting the annexation of the baltics by the USSR
- Basket 1: The West formally accepted the USSR annexation of the Baltic states i.e Lithuanian however, established a framework in which stabilised Europe, and promoted and secured a peaceful international environment / rivalry between the superpowers -> highlighted the USA and the West ability to compensate in order to reduces tensions on rivalry.
- Basket 2: Established an economic ‘interdependence’, in which would lead to further dialogue through trade agreements (gas agreements with Western Germany, led to further stability of Europe) -> increase in trust between the two superpowers, and therefore reduction of superpower tensions.
- Basket 4:Aimed at increasing future collaboration through more global accords between West and East. An example of this is SALT II in which aimed to further decrease military expenditures of both nations through a collective restriction of arms.
Negatives (1)
- “Détente did not halt the arms race but altered its dynamics.” - John Lewis Gaddis
- The USSR continued to increase its military expenditure, though at a slower rate then early Cold War with a focus towards modernisation of its nuclear arsenal (not restricted by detente treaties)
- The USA had experience retreat in defence spending but Ford and Carter would begin to increase spending, especially Carter after the USSR invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.
- Both the U.S. and the USSR invested in advancing their missile technology, improving accuracy, and developing new delivery systems, such as the Trident submarine-launched ballistic missiles
- Continued competition to extend spheres of influence - “This expansionist policy not only intensified superpower rivalries but also highlighted the USSR’s determination to challenge U.S. hegemony on a global scale.” John Lewis Gaddis
- Vietnam: The USSR supplied the North and Vietcong with military aid and intelligence on the USA
- Provided military aid to Egypt and Syria in the Yom Kippur 1973
- However, with the Arab loss, and the Camp David Accords of 1978 which led to Egypt formally recognizing Israel as a legitimate state -> culminated in Egypt to shift away for the USSR influence and therefore reduced tensions in the Middle-East.
Negatives (2)
Human rights: the impact of Helsinki:
- “people who lived under these [communist] systems — at least the more courageous — could claim official permission to say what they thought” John Lewis Gaddis
- Highlighted the restriction of the warsaw treaty in which USSR satellites were forced to ‘walk on eggshells’ according comrade Enver Hoxha -> leading to their further collaboration with the USA in the means on licensing technology in order to strengthen relations to allow them to eventually break free from the shackles of the USSR.
- However, this ‘third basket’ and the USSR intervention and suppression of human rights activists in the satellite states therefore led the West to denounce the USSR, souring tensions in the superpower rivalry.
“temporary easing of tensions but also highlighted the ideological divides that continued to underpin the Cold War.” - Melvyn P. Leffler
- Prevented Jews from migrating out of the USSR, claiming they were defecting.
Invasion of Afghanistan and Carter’s response
- Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 with 50,000 troops, leading to Western revitalisation of containment policy, and symbolised the end of detente, evident through the US Carter’s response of stopping SALT II agreements.
- Carter further increased military spending by 5% and ordered all young men to sign up for the draft + blocking licensing of modern technologies and exporting of wheat
- Placed additional strain on the fledgling USSR economy.
Overnight, the Cold war tensions heightened and USA proclamation of the ‘Carter doctrine’, a hardline stance to USSR influence, resulted in them threatening with direct invention if the USSR threatened US interests in the Persian gulf.
