Key Topic 3: Détente & the End of the Cold War Flashcards
Key Topic 3.1: Attempts to reduce tension between East and West
what is détente ?
A number of treaties were signed in this period that reduced tension
between the USA and USSR. This period became known as détente.
Détente means the easing of tension.
Why did USA want détente ?
President Nixon who was elected in 1968 was determined to take his country out of the Vietnam war which cost them billions of dollars and resulted in death of almost 60,000 American soldiers and USA had large scale demonstrations going about the war and also there were civil right issues
Policy of détente would allow USA to spend less on weapons and deal with their own social issues
Why did SU want détente ?
facing economic problems and wanted to cut spending on weapons and devote more money to improving living standards and updating its economy .
Willy Brandt was elected as chancellor of West Germany and wanted to focus on improving relations between east and west Germany
SALT 1 (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks) 1972
successfully limited the number of weapons they had.
*It imposed limits on the nuclear capability of the USA and USSR.
*They agreed there would be no production of ballistic missiles.
*Submarines would only be produced when the nuclear missiles ran out
Goods and bad of SALT 1 (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks) 1972
significant as successfully limited the number of weapons they had.
successfully slowed down arms race
led to further negotiations
insured neither side had advantage in nuclear weapons
Did not cover intermediate nuclear weapons
Helsinki conference 1975
USA and USSR and 33 other nations made declaration about 3 distinct international issues (baskets) Helsinki Conference 1975: The superpowers agreed on
*Security -> Recognition of Europe’s borders - USSR accepted that West Germany existed and
that it did not belong to them.
*Cooperation -> There was a need for closer economical, cultural and scientific links between the superpowers. This would lead them to closer political agreement.
*Human Rights -> Each superpower agreed to respect their citizens human rights. E.g. thought,
speech etc
Consequences of conferences
This stabilised the situation in Europe as there was greater cooperation between the superpowers
and their European allies.
Apollo-Soyuz Mission 1975:
*A joint mission between the USA and USSR.
*The US Apollo space craft docked with the Russian Soyuz craft in space.
*The 60s was a competitive space race but this represented cooperation between the superpowers.
But SU continued to focus on Eastern bloc countries and to apply Brezhnev Doctrine and continued to treat protesters harshly.
USA continued to priorities interest in countries it can influence like Chile or El Salvador
Salt 2 1979
an arms control agreement that marked end of detente. Relations worsened between USSR and USA as USA were concerned about the 2000 SU troops stationed in Cuba and in 1979 NATO placed long range missile in Europe and treaty was never ratified due to soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
Salt 2 1979 condition
a limit of 2400 nuclear delivery vehicles on either side
A limit of 1320 MIRV systems on either side
A ban of ICBM launchers
SALT 2 FAILED
West German politicians opposed treaty as they feared it weakened defence of West Germany.
thought that after treaty, USA Would be less likely to use weapons if West Germany were attacked by SU.
US Soviet relations soured after SU invasion in 1979
