Ending of Cold War tensions

ending of Cold War tensions in Asia: Afghanistan; the Americas: Cuba, Nicaragua and El Salvador; Africa: Angola and Ethiopia; the end of the Cold War: the Malta summit and its aftermath, including the reunification of Germany; the collapse of the USSR and resignation of Gorbachev

Why did Gorbachev want to withdraw from Afghanistan?

* financial costs of intervention
* huge number of casualties
* public opposition to the war
* Afghan and Soviet armies could not defeat the Mujahideen as they were being supplied by USA

When and how did USSR withdraw from Afghanistan?

wanted peace with honour like Nixon in Vietnam

**Feb 1988: announced withdrawal of troops beginning in May**

15 Feb 1989: withdrawal completed

**= seen as admission of failure to people of USSR and international community, also removed obstacle to improving relations with USA**

Organisation of American States

reinvigorated by USA in 1990s to further help development of economic ties with Latin America, in response to their gradual distancing as the Cold war came to a close

Ending of CW tensions in Nicaragua

* USA stopped funding Contras towards the late 1980s
* led to Contras agreeing to ceasefire with Sandanistas
* USA continued to opposed Sandanistas and supported pro-American Violeta Chamorro
* given $1m in financial support by USA
* 25 Feb 1990: Chamorro won elections, removed the Contras and ended civil war

Ending of CW tensions in El Salvador

* US supported Duarte to win elections in 1984, during civil war
* unrest continued (due to insurgents and the FMLN) especially after 1988 election of Cristiani
* **1992 peace accords were signed after USA relaxed anti-communist stance and stopped supporting Salvadorian army**
* UN oversaw elections in 1994

Ending CW tensions in Cuba

**collapse of USSR meant Cuba had to restructure their economy as they lost primary source of funding**

* reduced dependency on exporting sugar
* increased trade with China
* re-emergence of tourism industry
* withdrawal of assistance from other countries

**relations with USA remained tense**

Ending of CW tensions in Angola

* Dec 1986: Gorbachev announce reduction of support for MPLA
* to reduce spending and improve relations with USA
* However, provided $1b of arms to MPLA as USA continued to supply UNITA
* Sept 1987: USSR encouraged major offensive against UNITA to try to end civil war
* support of 10 000 Cuban troops
* **Dec 1988: peace agreement was reached, and Cuban troops withdrawn**

**= resolved source of conflict between USA and USSR**

Ending tensions in Ethiopia

* 1987: Mengistu Haile Mariam established People’s Republic of Ethiopia, proclaimed it as a Marxist country
* continued to receive economic, humanitarian and military aid from Soviet bloc, used this to engage in civil war
* May 1991: changes in eastern Europe led Mengistu to flee country and Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Front took over
* received assistance from USA despite their Marxist roots

= showing anti communism was no longer primary motivation regarding US foreign policy

Malta Summit, Dec 1989

occurred whilst communist regimes were falling in EE

* Gorbachev stated he will not use force in eastern Europe
* US gave assurances that it won’t intervene

**= effectively ended the Cold War**

Attempted coup, 19 Aug 1991

* **gang of 8 organised coup d’etat and kidnapped Gorbachev**
* led to protests across major cities
* army refused to fire on countryside and coup organisers were forced to back down
* support of army was needed for this coup to be successful

**= failed but revealed fragility of his hold on power**

The Baltic Way, 23 Aug 1989

2m citizens formed human chain across 3 Baltic republics on anniversary of Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, which annexed them from USSR

**= demonstrated people power, nationalism and discontent towards USSR regime**

When was the collapse of the USSR?

Feb 1990: Lithuania

Feb 1990: Moldova

Mar 1990: Estonia

May 1990: Latvia, Armenia'

Oct 1990: Georgia

**= demonstrated rise of nationalism, upset Russia as it lost** its power

When did Gorbachev resign as General Secretary?

24 Aug 1991, after the failed coup

When did Boris Yeltsin become Russian president?

elected in 10 July 1991

**= demonstrated people power, made Gorbachev’s role obsolete and rivalled his power**

When did Gorbachev resign as President of Soviet Union?

25 Dec 1991

When was the formal ending of USSR?

26 Dec 1991, after USSR Supreme Soviet voted to dissolve itself, thus **formally ending the existence of USSR**