Détente Flashcards
What was Détente?
A period of peace between two groups that were previously at war or hostile to each other.
Why did USA and Soviet Union follow a policy of Détente? Give 2 reasons
Both had internal reasons.
Nixon was elected president of the USA. The Vietnam war had killed almost 60,000 Americans and billiopns of dollars had been spent. The US government wanted to focus on social problems and inequalities, especially due to urban rioting in many US cities.
The Soviet Union was facing economic problems and wanted to cut spending on weapons so that it could try to improve living standards.
What was SALT 1 and when did it take place?
The Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty 1 signed in May 1972. It agreed to limit Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles, Submarine Launched ballistic Missiles and Anti-Ballistic Missiles between both countries.
Give 3 areas of agreement that were set out at SALT 1?
SALT 1 agreed to
• Limited the number of ICBMs each country could have (1,054 ICBMs for USA and 1,618 for the Soviet Union because the USA had more strategic bombers).
• Limited SLBMs to 740 each
• It also included the Basic Principles Agreement that laid down rules for the conduct of nuclear warfare such as no warheads on seabed.
What were the Helsinki accords and when were they signed?
In 1963, NATO and Warsaw Pact countries met to build on SALT 1 and make agreements on three areas.
What three areas was there agreement about?
European borders, international cooperation and human rights.
What was SALT 2 and when did it happen?
To build on SALT 1, talks towards SALT 2 continued until 18th June 1979.
What were 2 agreements at SALT 2?
Restrictions on missile launchers and strategic bombers as well as a ban on testing or deploying new types of ICBM.
What events during the late 1970s helped ensure SALT 2 was a failure?
Some US politicians called for a stronger stance against the Soviet Union in response to an increase in Soviet support in countries such as El Salvador and Nicaragua. Also, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
What were 2 consequences of SALT 1?
Symbolic importance of improving US-Soviet relations. Also, shortly after signing SALT 1, Nixon visited Brezhnev i Moscow, and in 1973 the Soviet leader came to Washington.
