The Cold War – Détente

Brezhnev Assumes Power (1964)

After the resignation of Khrushchev, Brezhnev became the new leader

Under his guidance, government censors controlled what the public read and wrote

They also enforced laws which limited freedom of speech and worship

Brezhnev Doctrine

He believed that the Soviet Union had the right to use force to keep Eastern European allies from turning away from communism

Détente (1970-1979)

The Soviet stance toward the U.S. became less hostile in the early 1970s

Brezhnev proclaimed in 1973 that peaceful coexistence was the normal and permanent state of relations

This is the period of détente (French for relaxation of tensions)

Détente (1970-1979)

Negotiations between the U.S. and the Soviet Union resulted in summit meetings and the signing of strategic arms limitation agreements

Causes of Détente

The Cuban Missile Crisis had revealed the dangers of confrontation and brinkmanship (pushing a dangerous situation until the brink of disaster)

The superpowers were alarmed at the possibility of the proliferation (building up) of nuclear weapons

Causes of Détente

People in the Communist party wished to reduce spending on defense to bring the standard of living of Soviet citizens to Western levels

The Soviet Union did not want to be isolated by improving U.S./Chinese relations

Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (1963)

Banned all nuclear tests except underground tests (because it was impossible to verify them) 1. Atmospheric

2. Underground3. Upper-atmospheric4. Underwater.

Outer Space Treaty (1967)

Banned the placing of nuclear weapons in orbit around the earth in outer space

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1968)

189 nations have joined It is the most widely followed arms control treaty China, France, Russia, the U.S., and the UK all must:

Not give nuclear weapons or technology to any state Reduce their weapons stockpiles

Other states agreed not to acquire nuclear weapons, but can develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes

All agree to submit to monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea have not signed on (North Korea withdrew in 2002)

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT)(1969)

This led to several agreements in 1972: Banning nuclear weapons on the ocean

floor Updating the “hot line” to take account

of new developments in satellite communications

Limiting each side to two ABM systems of limited size and effectiveness

Freezing the development of new systems of offensive weapons until 1977

Biological Warfare Treaty (1972)

Banned the development, production, and stockpiling of biological toxins and weapons

Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABMs)(1972)

Allowed each side two sites for the deployment of ABMs:One to protect the capital cityOne to shield a single

complex of ICBM silos

China (1972-1973)

(1972) UN Assembly votes to admit the People’s Republic of China

(1972) U.S. lifts 21-year embargo on trade with China

(1973) Nixon visits Mao Zedong in Communist China

Leaders Visit Each Other(1972-1974)

(1972 and 1974) Nixon goes to Moscow for a summit with Brezhnev

(1973) Brezhnev visits Washington

Withdrawal In Vietnam (1973)

The U.S. began to withdraw significantly from Vietnam

SALT II (1974)

These talks led to a treaty which:Limited delivery systems on each

side to 2,400 in 1979; 2,250 in 1985Missiles over a certain size were

bannedLimits were set on the number of

warheads per missileParties agreed to notify each other

of tests and stocks

Helsinki Accords(1975)

Ford generally followed Nixon’s approach, working for détente

In 1975, Ford, the Soviet Union, and about 30 other nations signed the Helsinki Accords

In signing the agreement, the countries pledged to cooperate economically, respect existing national boundaries, and promote human rights

Détente Ends

In the late 1970s, however, growing internal repression, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and Carter’s tough stance on human rights led to a renewal of Cold War hostility

Ostpolitik

The West German attitude towards eastern Europe was expressed in the Hallstein Doctrine:West Germany would have no

diplomatic relations with any state which recognized East Germany

Ostpolitik

Willy Brandt, the Foreign Minister of West Germany, outlined his proposals for a reduction in east-west tension (Ostpolitik) Improve relations with Poland and

Czechoslovakia Be part of a wider European détente Support moves to reduce arms levels

West Germany established relations with Rumania (1967) and Yugoslavia (1968)

Ostpolitik

In Sept. 1968, the West Germany lifted the ban on the communist party that had been imposed since 1955

In Mar. 1970, the PM of East Germany, Willi Stoph, met Brandt

In Aug. 1970, the USSR and East Germany signed a “non-aggression treaty” in Moscow

Ostpolitik

In Dec. 1970, Brandt visited Warsaw and:Signed a non-aggression treaty

with PolandRecognized the Oder-Neisse line

as the boundary of Germany with Poland

Knelt before the Warsaw ghetto memorial, acknowledging German war guilt

Ostpolitik

In Dec. 1972, East Germany signed the “Basic Treaty” with West Germany which would:Cultivate good relationsIncrease personal and cultural contactsRespect each others’ frontiers and

alliancesExchange permanent diplomatic

missions