Detente Flashcards
What was the main goal of Détente in the 1970s?
To reduce the risk of nuclear war and escalation, and manage rivalry through diplomacy, dialogue and arms control agreements.
Who initiated the period of Detente?
-POTUS Richard Nixon, making it a core element of his foreign policy.
-Nixon and Henry Kissinger sought to ease tensions with the Soviet Union and China, moving away from the containment policy to gain friendlier relations with both communist powers.
What landmark agreements were made during Détente?
-Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (1963)
-Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1968)
-Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty (1972)
-Salt I (1972)
-Helsinki Accords (1975)
These agreements collectively marked a significant thaw in Cold War hostilities by promoting arms control, cooperation, and dialogue between the superpowers
What were the Helsinki Accords (1975)?
Signed by 35 nations, including the US and USSR, this agreement addressed security, cooperation, human rights, and recognised existing European borders to reduce tensions.
What characterized Sino-Soviet relations in the 1970s?
Tensions due to ideological, territorial, and geopolitical disputes.
What initiated the U.S.-China rapprochement?
Henry Kissinger’s secret visit to Beijing in 1971.
What was the impact of Détente on global Cold War dynamics?
It reduced the immediate risk of nuclear war and opened channels for dialogue.
What was discussed at the Geneva Summit in 1955?
German reunification, nuclear arms control, and Eisenhower’s ‘Open Skies’ proposal.
What caused the collapse of the Paris Summit in 1960?
The U-2 incident involving a U.S. spy plane shot down over the USSR.
What was the key issue at the Vienna Summit in 1961?
The Berlin Crisis and Soviet ultimatum to withdraw Western forces.
What was the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (1963)
Banned nuclear tests in the atmosphere, outer space, and underwater.
What was the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1968)
Committed signatories to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons beyond the five recognised nuclear powers (USA, USSR, UK, China, France).
What were the key terms of SALT I and the ABM Treaty in 1972?
Salt I limited the number of strategic nuclear weapons and delivery systems for both superpowers; the ABM Treaty limited the deployment of missile defence systems to prevent an arms race in defensive weapons.
What was the Biological Weapons Convention (1972)?
Prohibited the development and stockpiling of biological weapons.
What was the outcome of SALT II in 1979?
Limited strategic nuclear weapons but was never ratified by the U.S. Senate.
What was discussed at the Reykjavik Summit in 1986?
Near-agreement on total nuclear disarmament, which collapsed when President Reagan refused to limit strategic defense initiative (SDI) research and technology to the laboratory.
What was significant about the INF Treaty in 1987?
It eliminated all intermediate-range nuclear missiles and marked a thaw in relations.
What was the outcome of the Malta Summit in 1989?
Declared the end to Cold War hostilities and paved the way for German reunification.
