Topic 5: Thaw and moves towards détente

Both superpowers had power to destroy each other, why didnt they do this?

• MAD

• Keeps peace because no one wanted to risk a war that was also certain to lead their own country’s destruction

• Cuban missile crisis showed it was possible for leaders to lose control of events

The Hotline

• impact of Cuban Missile Crisis

• Prevent any misunderstandings between two countries

• Direct communication between Whitehouse and Kremlin

• Used once in 1971 when there was a war between India and Pakistan

Limited Test Ban treaty

• 1963

• USA, Soviet Union and Britain agreed not to carry out any nuclear weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion in ‘the atmosphere, under water or in outer space’

• After 1963, further 113 countries signed this treaty

The Outer Space Treaty

• 1967

• Stopped arms race spreading into space

• Moon and other celestial bodies should be used exclusively for peaceful purposes

• Drawn up by USA, Britain and Soviet Union and later signed by 12 other counties

Nuclear non proliferation treaty

• signed by USA, Soviet Union, Britain and 59 other states

• Divided countries into NWS and NNWS

• NWS working towards disarmament

Why did USA want detente

• other social problems (equality between rich and poor, races leading to riots)

• Nixon had a personal ambition to reduce tension between USA and Soviet Union

• Nixon hoped to gain public approval for reducing Cold War tensions

• Wanted to establish relations with China

Why did Soviet Union want detente

• Is now USA’s equal in nuclear weapons and strength so can discuss arms limitation from a position of strength

• Hopeful that USA will recognize SOviet control over Eastern Europe

• Facing economic problems (30% of GDP on Defence compared to 13% spent by USA)

China and Soviet Union

• in 1949, Communists took power in China after defeating the nationalists in a civil war

• Mao visited Moscow and two countries signed Sino-Soviet Treaty

• Soviet Union provide economic aid with $300 million

• Military assistance if China was attacked by Japan or USA

• Mao offended by treatment of Chinese delegates in Moscow

• Khrushchev and Mao did not get along when Khrushchev visited Beijing in 1958

• Mao adopted a friendlier approach to USA

Henry Kissinger

• US Secretary of State

• Established friendly relationship with Chinese prime minister Zhou En Kai

• Ping pong diplomacy

• Key figure in USA’s policy of detente

• SALT1 (strategic arms limitation treaty) and won Nobel Peace Prize 1973

Ospolitik

Brandt (chancellor of West Germany) adopted this policies

• ease tensions in Europe by establishing links between East and West Europe

• When other Western European countries followed his lead, they began establishing better relations with Eastern European countries helping detente

Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty

• signed May 1972 (second treaty signed in 1979)

Terms of SALT 1

• ABM were allowed at only two sites in each country, with a maximum of 100 missiles each

• Interim Treaty placed restrictions on number of ICBMs and SLBMs

• Basic principales agreement laid down rules for the conduct if nuclear warfare

SALT 1 weaknesses

• nuclear war couldn’t realistically be avoided just because countries signed a piece of paper

• Treaty did not cover latest technological developments (MIRVs, which carried multiple nuclear warheads on a single missile)

• MIRVs were developed by USA and USA did not admit this to the Soviets

Impacts of SALT 1

• major symbolic importance

• Both USA and Soviet Union reached agreement and demonstrated better relations publicly

• After SALT 1, Nixon visited Brezhnev and in 1973, Brezhnev went to Washington

• In 1974, negotiations began for SALT 2