The Brezhnev Era, 1972–1985: The Extent of Détente up to 1979 - Arms Race

Question 1

Timeline of main events of arms race

Answer 1

• May 1972
- SALT I and Interim Agreement on the Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms

• July 1974
- Kissinger has fears over lack of SALT II agreement

• 1977
- Interim Agreement on Limitations of Strategic Offensive Arms expires

• By middle of 1978
- USSR refuses to stop deployment of SS-20 missiles in Europe, or to reduce heavy missiles stocks

• December 1979

• US convinces NATO allies to increase military expenditure by 3% and to deploy 572 Pershing II and cruise missiles
• USSR continues deployment of SS-20 missiles

Question 2

What did Kissinger believe would happen if a SALT II agreement wasn’t reached?

Answer 2

• In July 1974
• Kissinger was convinced that if a SALT II agreement wasn’t reached by 1977, there would be an expansion of nuclear weapons technology and an increase in nuclear weapons
• 1977 marked expiry for Interim Agreement on Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (SALT I, May 1972)

Question 3

When did Kissinger have fears over the lack of a SALT II agreement. When was the Interim Agreement on the Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms made and when was is due to expire?

Answer 3

• July 1974, Kissinger fears lack of SALT II
• May 1972, SALT I and Interim Agreement on the Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms
• 1977, above agreement due to expire

Question 4

James Schlesinger

Answer 4

• US Defence Secretary, James Schlesinger, urged US to ensure it had technical and strategic superiority over the USSR in nuclear weapons

Question 5

Who was the US Defence Secretary who urged the US to have nuclear superiority?

Answer 5

• James Schlesinger

Question 6

SS-20 missiles and heavy missiles

Answer 6

• By middle of 1978

- USSR refuses to end deployment of SS-20 missiles in Europe and refuses to reduce heavy missile stocks

Question 7

By what year did the USSR refuse to stop the deployment of SS-20 missiles and to reduce heavy missile stocks?

Answer 7

• By middle of 1978

Question 8

How did Carter respond to the USSR’s refusals to stop deployment of SS-20 missiles and to reduce heavy missile stocks?

Answer 8

• Carter activated deployment of new weapons programmes and establishment of new stealth bomber
• In December 1979, Carter convinced US NATO allies to increase military expenditure by 3% and to deploy 572 Pershing II and cruise missiles across alliance territory
• Believed the USSR’s refusals was a fundamental threat to NATO’s defence strategy
• USSR continues deploying SS-20 missiles

Question 9

When did Carter convince NATO allies to increase their military expenditures? How much did allies increase their expenditure by? Which missiles were to be deployed across alliance territory?

Answer 9

• December 1979
• 3%
• 572 Pershing II
• Cruise missiles