Detente Flashcards
When was Détente?
1963-1979
What was the Test Ban Treaty and when was it signed?
It stopped testing of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere. It was signed in August 1963.
What changed between the Russians and the Americans in 1968?
The USA offered trade and technology links to the Russians in return for negotiations for the end of the Vietnam War.
How did SALT 1 come about?
Talks held in Helsinki and Vienna over a period of almost 3 years produced SALT 1 in May 1972.
What were the agreements if SALT 1 (1972) ?
- Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. This limited missiles and missile bases.
- Interim Agreement on Offensive Arms. This imposed a 5 year freeze on toal numbers of launchers.
- Strategic bombs and their bombers not limited.
- No restrictions on MIRVS (multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles).
- Each side was allowed to use satellites to check the other side were not breaking the arms limit.
What happened in 1973 that tested the detente?
The Yom Kippur War, where Syria and Eqypt (armed by the Soviet Union) made suprise attacks on Israel (armed by USA). Once Israel had recovered, they were sent replacent military equipment by the USA.
What did the 2 sides have to gain by seeking peace?
The USA hoped that, by improving trade links and an arms reduction with Russia, Brezhnev would be willing to persuade his ally, North Vietnam to negotiate an end to the Vietnam War.
Brezhnev was keen to access to gain access to US technology and further grain sales.
When did Nixon visit Moscow?
Once in 1972, where he made it clear that Vietnam would not be an obstacle in the process of détente.
Again, in 1974
What happened in 1975 between Russia and the USA?
- Space link
- Helsinki Agreements.
What was the Space Link?
On the 17th July, 1975, 3 US astronauts and 2 Soviet cosmonauts meu up in space. There was a symbolic handshake.
What were the Helsinki Agreements?
The USA and the Soviet Union along with 33 other nations, made declarations about 3 distinct international issues. These were:
- Security - recognition of Europe’s frontiers. The Soviet Union accepted the existence of West Germany.
- Co-operation - there was a call for closer economic, scientific and cultural links - these woukd lead to even closer political agreement.
- Human rights - Each signatory agreed to respect human rights and bsic freedoms such as speeh, relgion and freedom from unfair arrest.
What was SALT 2?
Began in 1974 and was signed in June 1979.
The terms were:
- A limit of 2400 strategic nuclear delivery vehicles of each side.
- 1320 limit on MIRV systems
- A ban on construction of new land-based ICBM launchers.
- Limits on deployment of new types of strategic offensive arms.
- SALT 2 would last until 1985.
When did détente end?
When the Soviet Union invaded Afganistan on the 25th of December, 1979. The US Senate refued to ratify SALT 2.
