End of Cold War Summits

Geneva Summit

November 1985

What do Reagan and Gorbachev discuss

Nuclear arms reduction and other issues of international diplomacy (e.g. human rights) (USA and USSR came to share goal of nuclear arms reduction by 1985)

Significance of Geneva

Nothing agreed BUT breakthrough point for US-Soviet relations

Personal connection forged between Reagan and Gorbachev = possibility for warm and good relations

Peaceful goal of Arms reduction = creation of joint statement expressing support for the principle and groundwork for continued cooperation/negotiation

Disagreements/ Worries at Geneva

Reagan's Star Wars project, ends Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) on terms favouring the US which was worrying to the USSR

Chernobyl

April 1986

Significance of Chernobyl

Showed USSR's infrastructure was decaying and unstable (makes nuclear power more dangerous)

Convinced Gorbachev that radical reform (perestroika) was necessary (couldn't happen with ongoing CW)

Soviet concerns about accidental nuclear exchange heightened - mounting sense across the world that CW needs to end

The Reykjavik Summit

Oct 1986

Wake of Chernobyl, both leaders (more) convinced of need to eliminate nuclear weapons

Discussions at Reykjavik

Reagan prepared to accept Gorbachev's plan to eliminate all strategic nuclear weapons within 10 yrs

Outcome of Reykjavik Summit

Highlighted apparent warm and personal relationship establishing

Agreement never materialized because of disagreements over SDI

Washington Summit

Dec 1987

Agreements at Washington Summit [1987]

Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty [INF Treaty]

Moscow Summit

May-June 1988

Agreements at Moscow Summit

INF Treaty formally ratified (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty)

Gorbachev promised to withdraw from Afghanistan

• Reagan agrees to help USSR leave [Feb 1989]

Discussions at Moscow

Further talks held to discuss the reduction of armaments and conventional forces = Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START)

New York Summit

December 1988

Significance of New York Summit

Last Summit between Reagan and Gorbachev, also attended by President elect George Bush

Gorbachev indicated he was going to speed up arms reduction and wanted to complete START Treaty before Bush became president

• Bush and his advisers less trusting of Gorbachev

"Fulton in reverse"

Dec 7th 1988

[If Churchill's Fulton mission speech starts the CW this is the end to it]

What does Gorbi declare in his speech for Foreign Policy and Eastern Europe

Gorbachev U.N speech endorsed "common interests of mankind" as basis of Soviet foreign policy

For Eastern Europe declared "the compelling necessity of the principle of freedom of choice" as "universal principle to which there should be no exceptions"

What cuts does Gorbi announce

Announcement of unilateral cuts in Soviet forces of 500,000 soldiers Withdrawal of thousands of tanks and tens of thousands of troops from E. Europe

(Particularly surprised CIA and NATO)

Significance

Abandoning movements in E. Europe = prioritised good relations with US no matter what

Signalling to E. Europe communists to Reform or Die = no longer backing/ aiding them militarily

Malta

December 1989

If Yalta was [1945] was the beginning of the Cold War then Malta was the end of it

Agreements at Malta

Between George Bush (new pres.) and Gorbachev

Gorbachev assured Bush he would never start a 'Hot War' against the USA

Washington Summit (later)

May-June 1990

What is discussed at the Washington Summit [1990]

Bush and Gorbachev discussed Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START)

Representatives of NATO and Warsaw Pact signed the Conventional Armed Forced Treaty (CFE)

Conventional Armed Forced Treaty (CFE)

Reduction of weapons based in Europe

When was Treaty for the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START I)

(31st) July 1991

• Reducing 25 to 35% of all strategic warheads

Consequences of START agreement [July 1991]

USSR cease to exist (Christmas 1991)

'Open Skies' agreement (transparency on Military sites