History - The cold war - Détente (1968 - 1979)

Détente

Détente, meaning release from tension in French, was a period of reduced tension from both sides of the cold war during the 1970s . This period of calm had the warmest superpower relations since WW2 and significant work was put into keeping peace through arms limitation, summits and other exploits.

Reasons for Detente

Both superpowers feared nuclear warfare after the events of the Cuban missile crisis. The Soviet Union was spending huge amounts of defence (around 20%) and its living and economic condition was suffering, it could not financially keep up. The USA was experiencing little economic growth and wanted to spend less on nuclear weapons. USA wanted to end Vietnam war with Viet Cong and needed SU assistance to do so. SU was arguing with China and so wanted friendlier relations with the USA.

Policy of linkage (1969)

President Nixon (elected in 1969) wanted to form stronger trade and technological links with the soviet union in hopes to improve relations and encourage Brezhnev to act as intermediary between the USA and Viet Cong to end the Vietnam war. This peace was signed in 1973. Caused face to face meeting in moscow - 1972.

SALT 1 (Nov 1969 - May 1972)

Arms limitation talks between Brezhnev and Nixon leading to three separate deals : The Anti-ballistic missile treat, The Interim treaty and The Basic Principles agreement. These deals se limits on nuclear weapons and slowed the arms race as well as leading to further talks on arms limitation. However, it did not cut the number of nuclear weapons already in existence and some ways of the enlarging nuclear arsenals remained (eg. MIRVs and Strategic bombers.

SALT 1 deals

The Anti-Ballistic missile treaty - Superpowers limited to 2 ABM sites with 100 missile interceptors each so both sides were vulnerable to nuclear attack and therefore deterred from it.

The Interim Treaty - Five year freeze on the number of some nuclear weaponry (ICMG launchers, SLBM launchers and submarines carrying nuclear missiles)

The Basic Principles agreement - Superpowers pledge to avoid conflict/confrontation which could lead to nuclear war.

Joint US-Soviet space mission (1975)

The high point of détente was marked on 17th July 1975 with the “Handshake in space” between soviet cosmonaut Alexey Leonov and US astronaut Tom Stafford. The American Apollo space craft and Soviet Soyuz capsule met up in a globally televised event, showcasing the friendly relations caused by détente.

Helsinki Agreements/accords (1975)

In 1975, 35 countries of NATO and the Warsaw Pact, including the superpowers, signed a major diplomatic agreement, the Helsinki accords, consisting of three baskets: Non-changing borders between European countries, the strengthening of economic, cultural and scientific links in east and west and respected human rights and freedom.

Importance of Helsinki accords

The two sides had for the first time reached agreement on important matters, delighting the west at SU recogision and upholding of democratic rights (eg. freedom of though, speech, religion and from arrest). Helsinki monitoring groups set up by human rights activists in SU and eastern europe to ensure agreements upheld. However, by agreeing to accords soviet control/ownership of estonia, latvia and lithuania accepted.

Causes of deterioration of relations/end of détente

The SU failed to stick to basket three and ignored the human rights agreement. Soviet troops remained in Cuba increasing superpower tensions and NATO placed long range missiles in Europe which could reach the SU, increasing fear of attack.

President Carter feared looking weak, especially after the seize of the USA embassy in Teheran in Nov 1979.

Détente came to a complete end on christmas day 1979 when the SU invaded Afghanistan.

SALT 2 (1974 -1979)

In 1974 SALT 2 talks began and negotiations concluded June 1979. New agreements on arms limitation were reached (eg. development and testing of new missile programmes + launching systems banned). Unfortunately, before treaty was signed and agreed to it was delayed in being ratified by the US Senate and so did not become law. As a result the arms race continues and relations worsened once more.