Unit 1 - Section 6 - Afghanistan and the end of the Cold War Flashcards
(41 cards)
Which decade is associated with the word détente?
the 1970s
What was détente?
The word comes from the French language and means ‘relaxing’. This period, mainly in the 1970s, saw more cooperation between leaders of the East and West and a number of international agreements were made such as the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.;.
What was the high point of détente?
The Helsinki Conference of 1975 is often seen as the high point because it was specifically intended to improve relations between the West and the Communist Bloc countries:
Sovereign equality
Refraining from the threat or use of force
Inviolability of frontiers
Peaceful settlement of disputes
Non-intervention in internal affairs
Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief
Co-operation among States & respect for international law
What was SALT 1 and what agreements were made?
SALT 1 was the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks that lasted three years from 1969 to 1972. The USA and USSR negotiated to keep the number of existing short-range ballistic missiles within strict limits.
Also, both sides agreed that submarines carrying nuclear weapons would only be introduced when existing stocks of ICBMs became obsolete.
Finally, both sides agreed the ABM (Anti-Ballistic Missile) Treaty - this meant that both sides were limited to two ABM systems each. ABMs could shoot down enemy missiles - if one side achieved this first, it would give them a dangerous edge in the arms race.
What were the limitations of SALT 1?
More advanced weapons such as MIRVs were not included. Nevertheless, the two sides did agree to meet again to discus these at a later date.
Also, strategic bombers (e.g. B52s) and their bombs were not limited.
What was a MIRV?
A multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) is a ballistic missile payload containing several warheads, each capable of being aimed to hit one of a group of targets. By contrast a unitary warhead is a single warhead on a single missile.
Which leaders signed SALT 1?
Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev and U.S. President Richard Nixon, meeting in Moscow, signed the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) agreements in 1972. At the time, these agreements were the most far-reaching attempts to control nuclear weapons ever.
What ‘high’ point of détente happened in July 1975?
The American Apollo and the Soviet Soyuz spacecraft docked together. The Apollo-Soyuz incident was incredibly significant as it showed a reversal of the intense rivalry shown in the space race of the 1960s. The astronauts exchanged symbolic gifts like flags and even spoke each other’s languages.
Did the Helsinki Conference have any limitations?
Yes, not all of the agreements were actually carried out. For example, abuses of human rights continued in the USSR and other countries after 1975.
What caused détente?
Both superpowers wanted to ease tensions following the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. In the West this was known as détente; the Russians called it razryadka.
Why was SALT 1 important?
It was very important because it was the first agreement between the superpowers that successfully limited the number of nuclear weapons they held. It also showed that détente had created an environment in which the two sides could co-operate on important issues.
What was SALT 2?
SALT 1 was only ever meant to be a temporary agreement leading to a more comprehensive treaty later on. Consequently, negotiations for SALT 2 began in 1972.
Were any agreements made at SALT 2?
Yes, in 1974, the Vladivostock Agreement, which was part of SALT 2, stated that both sides agreed to reduce their stocks of nuclear warheads to 2,250.
SALT 2 was signed by US President Jimmy Carter and Soviet Premier Brezhnev in 1979.
Why were negotiations at SALT 2 difficult?
For two main reasons. Firstly, The West German government was worried that further arms reductions would leave their territory undefended.
Secondly, Right-wing American Congressmen thought that détente had gone too far and were reluctant to agree to further compromises with the USSR.
Why was the Helsinki Conference (sometimes referred to as the Helsinki Accords) important?
It was extremely important because it stabilised the situation in Europe by agreeing greater co-operation between the superpowers and their European allies in terms of trade and fighting international terrorism. This limited the possibility of superpower conflict by creating a stable relationship between the USSR and America in Europe.
What was the Outer Space Treaty and when was it?
in 1967, the Outer Space Treaty stopped the arms race spreading to outer space as it pledged that no nuclear weapons would be placed in space by either superpower.
When was the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and what was agreed?
in 1968, the superpowers agreed that they would not supply nuclear weapons to other states or help other countries to develop nuclear capability. This was important because it stopped superpower conflict engulfing other parts of the world.
What was the Kabul Revolution?
in April 1978, a communist revolution happened in Afghanistan. The new, communist government, set up in the capital Kabul and led by president Mohammed Taraki, quickly became an ally of the USSR.
Why was Brezhnev interested in Afghanistan?
Brezhnev saw the communist revolution there as an opportunity to expand his sphere of influence into the oil-rich Middle East.
What problems did the new government have in Afghanistan before Brezhnev sent in troops?
Although the new government was communist, it was far from stable. The communists themselves were constantly arguing with each other and there was growing anger among the Muslim population and Muslim leaders within Afghanistan over the nature of the communist reforms. For example, the educating of girls and criticisms of religion.
This resulted in a civil war breaking out between government forces and Muslim fighters and Taraki was forced the head of the army, Hafizullah Amin, as Prime Minister. However, the two men became bitter rivals. In October 1979, Amin assassinated Taraki and claimed the Presidency.
After Amin’s seizure of power, why did Brezhnev send in Soviet troops?
- Although Amin was a communist, Brezhnev didn’t trust him. Soviet secret police reported that he was an American spy. He was very unpopular with the Muslim population and Brezhnev feared that Muslim groups would take over.
- Brezhnev was worried that if Afghanistan became a Muslim state, other states within the Soviet sphere of influence would do the same.
- A man called Babrak Karmal - an Afghani communist - claimed he had popular support within the country but needed Soviet suppport to defeat Amin’s military.
- Brezhnev believed that the USA would tolerate the invasion, as they had done before in the ‘Prague Spring’
What were some of the key features of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?
Amin was killed and Karmal declared president (he held the post until 1986).
The invasion was ultimately a disaster for the USSR and Afghanistan. The Mujahideen fought a determined guerilla campaign against the Soviet army and were well funded and supplied by America, Saudi Arabia and China.
The invasion lasted ten years and around 1.5 million people died, including 15,000 Russian soldiers.
Eventually, the USSR simply could not afford to continue and withdrew forces in 1989.
Who were the Mujahideen?
They were various, loosely-aligned Afghan opposition groups who initially rebelled against Taraki’s government of the pro-Soviet Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (DRA) during the late 1970s. At the DRA’s request, the Soviet Union brought forces into the country to aid the government from 1979. The mujahideen fought against Soviet and DRA troops during the Soviet War in Afghanistan (1979-1989).
What is a ‘proxy war’?
This is a war in which a superpower uses another country, or soldiers in another country, as ‘puppets’ instead of using their own soldiers. The USA funded the Mujahideen and fought a ‘proxy war’ against the USSR in Afghanistan.
