The summits between the USA and the USSR? Flashcards
Changes in Gorbachev’s thinking?
‘New Thinking’ allowed for interdependence so that the USSR could cooperate with the USA for mutual benefits - end of Capitalism vs Communism
Pioneered ‘reasonable sufficiency’ - USSR maintaining levels of conventional and nuclear weapons that were ‘reasonable and sufficient’ - in a position to cut back and not demand similar cuts from the USA
Overview of Geneva Summit?
November 1985
General goal to:
Cut offensive weapons by 50%
Limit and perhaps eliminate medium-range nuclear weapons
End nuclear proliferation to other countries
Joint statement that nuclear war ‘must never be fought’ and they must act in ‘preventing a war between the USA and USSR’
Successes of Geneva Summit?
November 1985
Gorbachev had removed the ideological split as a factor in international relations
Clear understanding that neither side wanted a nuclear war - end of nuclear proliferation and joint statement
Both working towards a goal to end arms race
White House chief of staff: Reagan and Gorbachev “discovered they could talk to each other even if they not agree”
Failures of Geneva Summit?
November 1985
No concrete outcomes
Reagan first brought up his concept of SDI - contentious view - he stressed it was for defensive purposes only
Overview of Iceland Summit?
Reykjavik October 1986
To put Soviet-US relations back on track
Productive in that it was clear both sides wanted arms reduction
Exchanged ideas on human rights issues
No Concrete agreements made
Reagan in favour of eliminating nuclear weapons, but Gorbachev would not consider this until he abandoned SDI
Reagan left ‘disappointed - and very angry’ that the Soviets only brought him there to ‘kill SDI’
Overview of Washington Summit?
December 1987
INF Treaty Signed - Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces
Ended the use of all intermediate-range ballistic missiles and cruise missiles (500-5500 km range)
All to be destroyed by June 1991
At the deadline, USA destroyed 846 to the USSR’s 1846 - USSR had more
INF Treaty – only covered 5% of superpower warheads
Successes of the Washington Summit?
December 1987
Set a precedent
Most significant step taken by the Superpowers to end the arms race
First time the superpowers had agreed to reduce the nuclear stockpiles – removal of SS-20s, Perishing IIs and Cruise missiles – unprecedented Soviet agreement to on-site inspections
Soviets made no demand about SDI or to keep the 100 SS-20 missiles to defend against China or that British and French nuclear weapons were part of the deal
Gorbachev’s decision to withdraw from Afghanistan was another outcome - announced February 1988 and by May 1989 the last Soviet troops had withdrawn
Overview of the Moscow Summit?
May-June 1988
Started to achieve an agreement on START - limit nuclear weapons on both sides to 5000
Successes of the Moscow Summit?
May-June 1988
7 Agreements signed on the cultural and human rights (fishing rights + student exchange)
Reagan accesses the Russian people - addressed Moscow’s State University - focused on freedom - they liked him
Reagan retracted his ‘Evil Empire’ statement - made Gorbachev popular within the Soviet Union
Failures of the Moscow Summit?
May-June 1988
No headway made on START
Problem of SDI surfaced again - Gorbachev brought up the view that SDI was an attempt to put offensive weapons into space
Reagan’s first policies?
March 1983
Directed the military, scientific and industrial communities in the USA to undertake long-term research to eliminate nuclear weapons
SDI - anti-nuclear defence initiative - destroyed nuclear weapons in space before they landed - ‘STAR WARS’
Soviets feared the US gaining an artificial nuclear monopoly and speed up their build-up of the Soviet arsenal - furthered economic crisis - both ending the Cold War and furthering aggression
George H.W Bush’s policies?
President 1989-1993
Knew that stable US-Soviet relations were best achieved with Gorbachev as leader. During his visit to Poland and Hungary July 1989 he told his speech writers not to be provocative and not make things difficult for Gorbachev
Knew that if Gorbachev fell an ‘old style’ Communist may take to power and revert the relationship
Wanted to assist the Soviet Union, not undermine them, created START
Renegotiated the number of nuclear weapons to be destroyed in July 1991 - SDI had increased arms production
Reagan’s peaceful thinking?
- Had U.S Policy not shifted as well, the transformation would not have been so profound
- Reagan changed stance in his second term – wanted to be a peacemaker President
- 1984 – began to understand deep-rooted Soviet fears of invasion due to their history with Napoleon and Hitler
- Understood the Soviet War scare of 1983-1984 – promoted partly due to NATOS Able Archer exercise
- Secretary George Shultz – believed in genuine negotiation – had an excellent relationship with Shevardnadze – together created framework for INF treaty in preparation of Washington Summit 1987
Gorbachev working hard for peace?
- 1981 – Reagan suggests “zero option” – Soviets pull SS-20s – US pulls Cruise and Perishing II Missiles – 1987 Gorbachev accepts – made it “double zero” with the inclusion of short-range forces and turned it into “global double zero” – offered to include Soviet forces worldwide
- Gorbachev made a foreign policy by 1988 that the USA and USSR share “common human values” and must seek peace
