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CW Section 5: The Brezhnev Era 1972-85 - Coggle Diagram
CW Section 5: The Brezhnev Era 1972-85
DETENTE
CAUSES/MOTIVES:
STRATEGIC ARMS LIMITATION TALKS (SALT):
There had been some moves between the US + USSR towards limiting the development and use of nuclear weapons during the 1960s.
The 1963 Moscow Treaty and the 1968 Non-proliferation treaty had begun this process, BUT the Soviet intervention in Czechoslovakia stalled the proceedings.
The effort to manage nuclear weapons as a means of preventing global nuclear war was resumed in 1969 and reached some degree of agreement by May 1972.
SALT I:
Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty 26 May 1972:
Limited both the Soviet Union + USA to constructing 2 fields of ABMs, each with no more than 100 missiles.
One f these could be set up around a capital city, while the other was to protect Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) sites.
This significantly restricted the strategic values of ABMs. Meaning there would be no significant competition to further develop ABM defence technology.
Also made the race to develop offensive strategic nuclear weapons less critical.
The treaty showed that both superpowers recognised each others destructive power and had an interest in preventing what would be a mutually destructive conflict.
Agreement was seen as CRUCIAL component in curbing the arms race.
The Interim Agreement on the Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, 26 May 1972:
Linked strategy offensive and defensive arms agreements.
established a freeze on strategic missiles.
agreement was to remain valid for 5 years.
the salt talks were politically beneficial to both Nixon and brehzne, and reinforced the political advantages to be gained by national leaders if they backed policies that created greater stability and the prospects of international peace.
SALT opened the way for an era of negotiation rather than confrontation.
US nuclear dominance had faded and the 2 nuclear superpowers were of equal status.
A balance of power had been acknowledged + therefore new non-confrontational relationship (Detente)
SALT agreements were finalised at the Moscow summit.
MOSCOW SUMMIT 1972:
(referred to as SALT II)
As well as finalising SALT agreements, the summit also set out guidelines for US-Soviet relations.
The basic principles of relations acted as a code of behaviour.
12 principles overall which were agreed on.
1st principle: no alternative to conducting their mutual relations on the basis of peaceful coexistence.
2nd principle: wanted to avoid developing situations that could damage their commitment to peaceful coexistence. led to an agreement to avoid military confrontations and prevent the outbreak of nuclear war.
3rd: To do everything possible to ensure conflicts or situations would not arise which would serve to increase international tensions.
Treaty depended on each side abiding by the guidelines.
The USSR was more serious about the guidelines.
THIS WAS the foundation of Detente as far as the Soviet Union were concerned.
VLADIVOSTOK SUMMIT NOV 1974:
Oct: Kissinger visited Moscow.
Ford succeeded Nixon as president after Watergate scandal.
Kissinger talked with Brezhnev about numbers of strategic missile launchers and MIRVs, some movement in the positions held by both sides.
At the summit: an agreement was reached for a 10 yr plan which was seen as a preliminary move towards a future SaLT II treaty.
Soviets had agreed to equal levels of IBM launchers + SLBM launchers.
Despite internal opposition from the US, linked to the high levels of weapons being retained and the apparent gains made by the Soviet Union, congress passed resolutions supporting the Vladivostok SALT agreement by Feb 1975.
became increasingly clear that smooth transition from Vladivostok to Salt II would not happen.
USA argued with the limit on air to surface missiles applied only on ballistic missiles, while the soviets argued that it also included cruise missiles.
When Kissinger returned he received opposition from many gov officials.
new proposals were forced onto Kissinger + backed by Ford. Brezhnev rejected the new approach and it was clear that a further salt agreement would not be achieved in 1976.
1976: particularly since this was a presidential election year and Ford was nominated the republican candidate.
1977: Carter was considering substantially reducing levels of heavy ICBMs, new limits on a testing, and a ban on new types of ICBMs.
Carter was not interested in simply competing Kissingers unfinished business from Vladivostok (could link to failures due to leaders).
Carter made a list of new proposals but they were rejected by Brezhnev. Brezhnev regarded the Vladivostok agreement as binding and that Carter was behaving unacceptably.
There was an increasing feeling on part of the USSR that the Carter administration was beginning to move away from detente.
VIENNA June 1979:
Both the USA + USSR still wanted the SALT II agreement to proceed.
Agreement was finally announced 9 May 1979.
It was signed and finalised at the Vienna Summit June 1979.
This was the main concrete achievement of the summit and the fact that such a summit could take place showed that the Soviet + America. leadership could talk and communicate directly through each other as opposed to intermediaries.
OSTPOLITIK + THE DEVELOPMENT OF EUROPEAN DETENTE:
Ostpolitik= new term used to describe a new European approach to East-West relations.
The appointment of Willy Brandt as chancellor of W.Germany in Oct 1969 triggered a new approach to these relations.
Brandt chose to abandon the Hallstein doctrine. (W.Germany had exclusive right to represent the entire German nation).
His overall objectives were to recognise E.Germany + the territorial changes that occurred at the end of ww2.
-brandt's strategy was to negotiate with the Soviet Union, settle the frontier with Poland and finally negotiate with the GDR (E.Germany).
Brandt's talks with the USSR led to led to a joint non-aggression pact in Aug 1970.
A major breakthrough for European detente came in Dec 1972, when the 2 Germanise signed an agreement formally recognising each other. (THE BASIC TREATY). Not only settled relations between E + W Germany, but also provided the route for other European nations could establish relations with the GDR.
Kissinger realised that the US must develop detente with the Soviet Union in order to prevent a west German detente from marginalising US influence in Europe. The USAs superpower influence was not to be undermined by initiatives taken by W.Germany.
By the end of Sept 1973, both the FRD + GDR were members of the UN.
THE HELSINKI ACCORDS 1975-77:
Was a security conference by all major Eastern + Western European countries and the USA.
the final meeting of the conference of security + cooperation took place in Helsinki 1975.
35 states participated, each had the power pf veto at its disposal.
The conference lasted 2 years.
The outcome was the Helsinki accords.
The main parts of the agreement were divided into baskets and each was linked to a specific package of agreements.
-Both sides agreed to recognise the current borders of European countries.
-Both sides agreed to respect human rights + freedoms in their respective countries.
-Both sides agreed to help each other economically and technologically.
HUGE breakthrough for detente.
THE ARMS RACE CONTINUED:
July 1974: Kissinger was convinced that if a salt agreement was not reached by 1977, when the interim agreement was due to expire, there would be an expansion of nuclear weapons and technology.
Also the possibility that the USSR could be in a position to destroy US forces.
SALT was seen by Kissinger as a guarantee that a nuclear arms race would not revive + expand.
By the middle of 1978, Carter was faced with the USSRs refusal to end the deployment of SS-20 missiles in Europe, or to reduce its stocks of heavy missiles.
In response Carter activated the deployment of new weapons programmes and the establishment of the new stealth bomber.
The USSR continued to deploy its SS-20 missile systems and this was seen by the USA and its European allies as a fundamental threat to the NATO defence strategy.
The USSR's invasion of Afghanistan in Dec 1979 profoundly shifted the basis for east-west detente.
US DOMESTIC CRITICISM OF DETENTE-RISE OF NEO CONSERVATIVES:
SUCCESS OF DETENTE:
SALT I had proven commitment on both sides to limit the escalating nuclear arms race
SALT I: ABMs limited to 200 (ABM Treaty) & Limitations of ICBMs, SLBMs and strategic bombers
USA and USSR agreed to place "Basic Principles" in stabilising relations between each other
The Helsinki Accords (1975) fulfilled certain expectation for both sides: USA -> USSR promises human rights provision & USSR -> gain full recognition of their sphere of influence + trade
The Helsinki Accords (1975) fulfilled certain expectation for both sides: USA -> USSR promises human rights provision & USSR -> gain full recognition of their sphere of influence + trade
Nixon and Kissinger had implemented "triangular diplomacy" in foreign affairs to gain agreements with PRC + USSR
The policy of "Ostpolitik" helped achieve the easing of relations between the West Europe + East (USSR)
FAILURES/THINGS THAT UNDERMINED DETENTE 1969-79:
After the resignation of Nixon in 1974, the détente between the USA and the USSR soured
USA criticised the USSR for breaching the human rights provision as agreed in Helsinki Accords
Interim Agreement (May 1972) failed to include MIRVs and cruise missiles
Vladivostok Summit reached limited agreement - debates: limitation = which application of weapon
Growing opposition in Congress - USA is not benefiting from détente: USA has less weapons than USSR + Two of the three Baskets in the Helsinki Accords fulfill USSR's expectations
Fall of Saigon in 1975 - USA soured spirit of cooperation (on the defensive)
Interventions from both USA and USSR in the Third World (e.g. Angola, Middle East) to expand their sphere of influence
Soviet invasion into Afghanistan in 1979 reawakened fear of Soviet expansionism - marked the end of détente
RELATIONS WITH CHINA:
DEVELOPMENTS IN AFRICA + THE AMERICAS:
The impact of Cuban intervention in Angola :
The impact of Cuban intervention in Ethiopia:
The impact of American intervention in Chile:
The impact of American intervention in Grenada:
The impact of American intervention in Nicaragua:
The impact of American intervention in El Salvador: