18) The extent of détente up to 1979 Flashcards
Define détente
the easing of hostility or strained relations, especially between countries
What was agreed at the Moscow summit
SALT I
The Basic Principles of Relations between the United States and the USSR’- a code of behaviour in terms of their relations
When was the Moscow Summit
May 1972
What were the Basic principles
Committed to peaceful coexistencew
look for peace over war
promote peace in other countries
what were the limitations of the Basic principles
they had no legal status, the USSR saw the basic principles as the foundation of détente and peaceful coexistence (very important) however the US merely saw them as aspirational values
When was SALT I signed
May 1972
delayed by the invasion of Czechoslovakia
What was agreed in SALT I
Anti-Ballistic missile treaty (ABM)
The Interim Agreement on the Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms
what as agreed in the Anti-Ballistic missile treaty (ABM treaty)
USA and USSR were only allowed 200 ABMs each across two different fields
One could be set up to protect the capital city, the other to protect ICBM sites
Importance of the ABM treaty
decreased the strategical value of ABMs and thus any competition to advance this technology was less critical
Showed the super powers recognised the others destructive capability and thus wanted to reduce it
What was agreed in the Interim Agreement on the Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms
linked offensive and defence nuclear weapons
established a freeze on strategic missiles
At this point the USSR had more ICBMs but the USA had more Submarine-launch ballistic missiles and more strategic bombers)
what were the limitations of The Interim Agreement on the Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms
expired in 5 years (1977)
Did not limit other newly developing nuclear technology
benefit of SALT I talks for leaders
it reenforced their prestige and gave them political advantages as they backed policies which promoted greater stability
significance of SALT I
Foundation of détente
proved that détente was possible
began the era of cooperation over competition
curbed the effects of the arms race
What did SALT prove to the US
that it had lost its nuclear dominion over the USSR, at this point the superpowers were had very similar nuclear capabilities which was a important step in international relations- now both sides had something to gain from détente
‘a balance of power had been acknowledged and this necessitated the construction of a new non confrontational relationship’- the textbook
When was the Vladivostok summit
November 1974
Gerald Ford is now president
Who was present as Vladivostok
Kissinger
what was agreed at Vladivostok
A 10 year plan which would lead into SALT II talks
Equal levels of ICBM and SLBM launchers
Despite US internal opposition to this, congress passed resolutions supporting the Vladivostok SALT agreement by Feb 1975
Arguments that delayed SALT II talks
US-Soviet disagreement over what counted as a ‘air to surface’ missile
Kissinger faced lots of opposition internally and was forced to present new proposals to Brezhnev (these were backed by Ford) Brezhnev rejects these
Election of Jimmy Carter in 1977 also delayed talks
What did the Carter administration attempt surrounding nuclear talks
Carter was under significant internal pressure to reduce the USSRs weapons
Carter did not want to completing Kissinger’s previous agreements from Vladivostok but further alter them to reduce arms
