The impact on the USSR Flashcards
What did Nixon’s visit to China cause?
Great anxiety at the top of the Soviet government.
What did Nixon’s visit to China force the Soviet government to do?
Maintain friendly and cooperative relations with the USA, as they feared the emergence of an anti-Soviet Sino-US alliance
What had the USSR been doing as early as 1969?
Monitoring US interest in China, fearful of a Sino-US alliance
What did the USSR have to do because of the Sino-US involvement?
Divide Its military resources and plan for war on two fronts - a war in Europe with NATO forces and war in the East with China
What were the Soviet leaders aware of?
USA’s new friendship with China meant that the USA could now focus its defensive strategy on the USSR
What were Soviet leaders concerned about?
China might persuade the USA to abandon detente
What did Nixon do three months after his visit to China?
He attended the Moscow Summit of May 1972
What was significant about the May 1972 Moscow Summit?
It was the most successful summit of the CW to date
What did the USSR agree to sign?
The SALT 1 treaties and the Basic Principles Agreement, which effectively normalised the relationship between the two superpowers
What did Soviet leaders never acknowledge?
Nixon’s visit to China was behind their willingness to negotiate
What senior official in Nixon’s administration believe?
Triangular diplomacy had played a role on the success of the summit
