the Geneva Summit, September 1955

• NK accepted the need for flexibility in Soviet policy 
• Clear incentive for NK to slow down the arms race 
• Russia needed extensive conventional forces to ensure compliance among the Eastern Bloc states and to give them security
• NK also needed to promote internal economic development 
• A less confrontational relationship with the West would significantly contribute to this and protect the USSR’s national security and global superpower status at the same time 
• NK was a pragmatist of the first order
• Summit necessary when May 1955 – FRG admitted into NATO and began rearmament
• To reassure France that any resurgence of German militarism would be addressed, the USA agreed to place a large and permanent force of troops in Europe
• Caused concern for NK and increased the urgency of organising a summit 
• Two major issues discussed – nuclear disarmament and the future of Germany 
• No satisfactory outcome was reached