Detente

• • Relaxing tension between rivals
• Need for detente: Domestic issues in USA

  • Nixon election in 1968
  • Detente would allow USA to spend less money on weapons and more on riot issues
• Need for detente: Domestic issues in USSR

  • USSR had economic problems and wanted to spend less money on weapons and more on living standards
  • Thought USSR were equal in nuclear weapons with USA
  • USSR supported communist regimes and spent a lot on Arms and Space Race
  • USSR exports not being sold
  • USSR had little to spend on country
• Need for detente: Demand in Europe

  • Other European countries followed USA lead and established good relations with East Europe
  • 1969 - Chancellor of West Germany made better relations with East and West
• What did detente do?

  • Relations between USSR and China ruined - Sino-Soviet split
  • Sino-Soviet split led to US-Sino Rapproachment - USA established good relations with China, a communist superpower
  • SALT I signed in 1972 by Nixon and Soviet leader - restricted number of ICBMS, did not limit production of nuclear weapons
  • 1975 Helsinki Agreement - West recognised USSR control over East Europe
  • Apollo-Sayuz mission - high point of detente as it showed cooperation
• Summary:

  • Events of 1960s made worriedly about nuclear threat
  • USA and USSR tried to improve relations
  • Limitation of nuclear weapons