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How effective did Thatcher manage Britain's relationship with foreign…
How effective did Thatcher manage Britain's relationship with foreign powers?
US Special Relationship
Thatcher was a massive believer in the Special Relationship. Her relationship with Reagan - ideological and personal - was a key reason for this
They both held a staunch anti-communist stance
They shared a belief in supply-side economics (Reagonomics in the US)
There was only 2/3 noticeable events which damaged US-UK relations
The US invasion of Granada after a Communist Coup. Reagan didn't consult Thatcher on the invasion, which personally hurt her. Furthermore, Granada was still a Commonwealth nation with the Queen as Head of State
Reagan often negotiated with Gorbachev without Thatcher, despite Thatcher being the first person to meet Gorbachev, and encouraging Reagan to initially meet with Gorbachev
The singing of the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty between the US and USSR went against Thatcher's belief of retention of Nuclear Weapons
There were a number of events which showed a strengthening of relations
Despite initially trying to prevent the conflict, the US fully supported Britian in the Falklands War, allowing use of US bases (Ascension Island in particular)
Thatcher allowed the US to station Cruise Missiles in the UK, despite public opposition, and permitted use of Airbases for US planes bomibing Libya
USSR, ending of the Cold War
Thatcher played a key role in opening talks with the Soviets
She met with Gorbachev in 1984, beginning a period of growing relations and reducing tensions
Thatcher was responsible for opening up US-USSR talks between Reagan and Gorbachev. This ultimately lead to the signing of numerous arms reduction treaties, such as the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
Thatcher, while generally reducing tensions, also did things which tightened tensions
Her staunch anti-communist stance meant talks which could've began earlier didn't, possibly extending the Cold War
EEC and European relations
Thatcher clearly and publicly supported a relationship with the US than with Europe
Thatcher still harboured a distrust of (West) Germany, and had a cold relation with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl
Thatcher made a number of speeches which damaged relations with the EEC, such as the 1988 Bruges Speech, and the 'no, no, no' speech in 1990 - which resulted in the resignation of Chancellor Geoffrey Howe
The repeated demands for and succesful negotiation of a rebate for the UK soured relations with EEC members
Thatcher did do a few things which helped to improve relations with the EEC
Thatcher had a close relationship with some European leaders, such as President Mitterrand of France
An agreement was signed in 1986 with France to build the Channel tunnel