Nixon Administration and Détente

The Revival of Détente
- Nixon announced the USA would enter into an era of negotiations with the Communist World to advance US interests.
- Goals:
  - To get out of Vietnam without humiliating the USA.
  - Conclude the SALT agreement.
- The Soviets were also eager for détente.
- Reasons for Soviet eagerness:
  - Struggling with collectivized farming.
  - Struggling with industrial growth.
  - Facing the nuclear arsenal buildup of the US.
  - Experiencing unrest in Eastern Europe.

Henry Kissinger
- National Security Advisor at the start of Nixon’s term, later Secretary of State.
- He hoped to curb Soviet aggressive behavior.
- Kissinger believed in “Linkage”
  - Connecting the progress of SALT to Soviet cooperation with the US on certain issues.

Nixon Doctrine
- Several parts:
  - 1. The US must be able to deter communist aggression with both regular and nuclear forces.
  - 2. “1.5 war posture” – US must have enough forces to fight a full war and a slight conflict elsewhere.
  - 3. Allies should assume the primary burden of engaging aggressors.

Nixon’s nuclear component to his doctrine was “Sufficiency”
- Dropping a nuclear bomb would do a sufficient amount of damage to deter.
- Under Nixon, the development of Safeguard was pushed as well.
- Safeguard referred to an ABM (Anti-Ballistic Missile) system.

November 1969, the SALT talks finally began in Helsinki, Finland.
- Largest obstacle: defensive or offensive weapons limitations?
- Soviets wanted to limit defensive weapons.
- Americans wanted to limit both.

Ostopolitik: European Powers wanted to improve relations with the Soviets
- West Germany’s Chancellor – Willy Brandt – aimed to do so.
  - 1967 – Established diplomatic relations with Romania.
  - 1968 – Established diplomatic relations with Yugoslavia.
  - 1970-1974 – improved relationships with Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia.

Brandt also addressed the Berlin problem.
- Proposed a treaty to renounce force.
  - This alarmed the Nixon administration, who thought it might weaken NATO and that the US should be leading the efforts.
- To slow Brandt’s progress, it was suggested that the major powers meet to resolve the Berlin issue.
  - Ambassadors met on March 26th, 1970.

Nixon wanted to improve relations with China.
- China also wanted to improve relations, as they were nervous about the Soviets.
  - Brezhnev Doctrine: Soviets will intervene to uphold Socialism in neighboring states.
  - The Chinese were wary because they were a border state – Ussuri River Crisis was a contributing factor.
- July 1969, Nixon announced a reduction in troops in Vietnam and suspended naval patrols on the Taiwan Strait.

Nixon attempted to improve relations with China.
- Opened secret diplomatic channels with China through Romania and Pakistan.
- China invited Henry Kissinger to Beijing – he accepted.
- Nixon was then invited, and he lifted the trade embargo with China.
- The US also reversed its policy of opposing China’s membership in the UN.

There was trade promotion as well.
- The Americans secretly sold the Soviets 136 million worth of grain.
- The Soviets also invited Nixon to Moscow, which occurred in May of 1972.

Nixon’s trip to China was a diplomatic success.
- Nixon and Kissinger met with Mao as soon as they got off the plane.
- They did not necessarily agree on the issues surrounding Taiwan.
  - They did agree that the US would leave Taiwan after negotiations finished, so long as they were peaceful.

They also agreed that China could benefit from helping end the Vietnam War.
There were also agreements on Travel, Trade, and Tourism between the two countries.
They set up liaison offices in both Beijing and DC.