Détente Flashcards
1
Q
When did Richard Nixon become president?
A
- 1969
2
Q
What did détente mean, and what did it refer to?
A
- French: relaxation
- A reduction in tension between the superpowers during the 1970s
3
Q
What 4 moves were made towards détente in the 1960s?
A
- After the Cuban Missile Crisis both sides showed a willingness to look at the issue of developing nuclear weapons
The superpowers ignored: - How they had armed opposing sides in the Six Day War of 1967 in the Middle East (the USA had supported Israel, while the USSR had supported the Arab countries)
- Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968
- US involvement in the Vietnam War, although they were openly showing hostility against communism
4
Q
When and why had the USA gotten involved in the Vietnam War?
A
- They sent military advisers to South Vietnam in the 1950s, and troops in 1965
- To halt the spread of communism
5
Q
Why did the USA want to end its involvement in Vietnam?
A
- Despite their huge military presence they could not defeat the Viet Cong
- The number of casualties was very high (over 14,000 killed and more than 87,000 injured in 1968 alone), which made the war unpopular domestically
- By then they wanted to end their involvement, and began peace talks
6
Q
What was ‘linkage’ and how did it relate to the Vietnam War?
A
- Linkage was the name given to offering concessions by Nixon’s advisers
- They hoped that offering a reduction in arms and improved trade and technology links would convince Brezhnev to persuade his ally in North Vietnam to negotiate the end of the war
7
Q
List 4 reasons why the superpowers wanted détente.
A
- Nixon wanted to negotiate a way out of the Vietnam War
- Brezhnev wanted access to US technology and further grain sales
- He also wanted to reduce arms spending
- Nixon had visited China in 1972, and the USSR did not want a Chinese-US alliance to develop
8
Q
What 2 moves to reduce tension were made in 1972?
A
- Nixon visited Moscow
- Strategic Arms Limitation Talks I (SALT I)
9
Q
What were 4 outcomes of Nixon’s 1972 visit to Moscow?
A
- He made it clear that he did not see events in Vietnam (the USSR were supplying the North with weapons) as being an obstacle to détente
- Nixon agreed to take part in the European Security Conference, which led to the Helsinki Agreements
- Nixon was able to show his dedication to détente through making a public declaration with the USSR
- Brezhnev worked as an intermediary between Washington and Hanoi (the capital of North Vietnam), and peace was signed between the USA and North Vietnam in 1973
10
Q
What was the purpose of SALT I?
A
- First step towards and agreement about nuclear arms control after talks were held for almost 3 years
- Was a clear recognition that the nuclear balance needed to be protected- no country should ever consider itself safe from retaliation
11
Q
What were the 3 agreements in SALT I?
A
- Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty: systems only allowed at 2 sites (one for each country), and each site limited to 100 of them
- These detected, tracked, intercepted and destroyed ICBMs (the problem with ABMs was they created the need for more powerful deterrents to be made)
- 5 year freeze was agreed on the number of ICBM and SLBM (submarine-launched ballistic missiles) launchers
- Satellites would be used to make sure both sides were adhering to the agreement
12
Q
List 2 limitations of SALT I.
A
- No limit was placed on strategic bombers (planes that carried bombs) and bombs either
- No restriction on MIRVs (contained several nuclear warheads per missile, and each could detonate with 25 times the power of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima)
13
Q
What was the Yom Kippur War, when did it happen, and how did it involve the USA and the USSR?
A
- Syria and Egypt made surprise attacks on Israel
- 1973
- Syria and Egypt were armed by the USSR, and Israel by the USA
- Nixon also ordered for replacement weapons to be sent to Israel after the surprise attacks
14
Q
What did Brezhnev suggest he and Nixon do about the Yom Kippur War? How did Nixon react?
A
- Brezhnev suggested that a joint US-Soviet force would save the Egyptian army from the Israelis, who had broken the ceasefire (on 24th October 1973)
- If Nixon refused, the USSR alone would send a force
- Nixon was angry at this, and placed all US forces on alert (including nuclear strike groups)
15
Q
How was a peaceful resolution to the Yom Kippur War reached?
A
- The USA suggested instead that a UN peacekeeping force from non-nuclear countries intervenes
- Brezhnev agreed to this
