The Cold War détente era marked a period of eased tensions between the US and the Soviet Union, highlighted by the 1972 Moscow summit, SALT agreements, and the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. This phase saw strategic shifts from confrontation to diplomacy, arms control efforts, and regional conflict mediation, but ultimately deteriorated by the late 1970s.
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Détente, derived from the French word for "relaxation," denotes a period of reduced geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War
Beginning of Détente
The era of détente is often recognized as beginning with the 1972 summit in Moscow between U.S. President Richard Nixon and Soviet General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev
Factors Influencing Détente
The advent of détente was influenced by multiple factors, including fear of nuclear annihilation, the Sino-Soviet split, and economic challenges
Détente began to deteriorate by the late 1970s due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the United States' reaction
The cornerstone of détente was the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT), which resulted in the SALT I Treaty in 1972 and sought to further limit nuclear arsenals through the SALT II negotiations
In addition to SALT, other arms control agreements during détente included the Partial Test Ban Treaty and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
Basic Treaty
The "Basic Treaty" of 1972 formalized the mutual recognition of East and West Germany, easing tensions in Central Europe
Helsinki Accords
The Helsinki Accords of 1975, signed by 35 nations, sought to improve East-West relations and included commitments to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms
Yom Kippur War
The U.S. successfully mediated a ceasefire in the Yom Kippur War of 1973, demonstrating détente's potential to mitigate regional conflicts
Apollo-Soyuz Test Project
The joint mission between American astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts symbolized the easing of the Space Race and highlighted the possibilities for U.S.-Soviet collaboration
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The détente era is often cited as starting with the 1972 ______ in ______ between U.S. President ______ ______ and Soviet General Secretary ______ ______.
summit
Moscow
Richard
Nixon
Leonid
Brezhnev
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Impact of Cuban Missile Crisis on détente
Cuban Crisis scared both nations into seeking arms control, leading to treaties like the Partial Test Ban.
02
Sino-Soviet split's effect on U.S. foreign policy
Split allowed U.S. to engage with China, shifting global power dynamics and affecting Soviet policies.
