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Detente

  • Detente - relaxing of tension between East and West. The USSR and USA become less hostile to each other

Why a Detente?

Economic problems for USA and USSR over inflation

  • By the early 1970s, there was rising inflation in the USSR
  • This together with huge expenditure on the Vietnam War was crippling the US economy
  • The USSR had low standard of livings and poor industrial efficiency and needed to trade more with the West

Weapons

  • Both sides were spending vast sums of money on defense
  • USSR was 20% on total spending by the government
  • Both sides had stockpiles of weapons with a capacity to destroy the Earth

Oil

  • Both the USA and USSR were worried about conflict in the Middle East
  • Oil supplies from that area were vital for both
  • Suez Canal was important for sea routes
  • Communist and non-Communist countries had become involved with conflict with the Arabs and Isrealis

Contacts with China

  • Both the USA and USSR were worried about the growing power of China
  • Although China and the USSR were cooperating over Vietnam, they were quarrelling over other issues
  • The USA was afraid of the possibility of two Communist giants, China and USSR reaching agreements that threatened the US

Initiatives of President Nixon

  • President Nixon and his Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger were keen on establish better working relations with Moscow and also Beijing
  • In the USSR, President Brezhnev was keen on extending Khrushchev's policies of a peaceful coexistence
  • Wanted to persuade the West to accept Soviet control in Eastern Europe
  • Wanted to increase the USSR's trade with the West to improve Soviet's living standards

Consequences of the Vietnam War

  • North Vietnam was Communist and Americans feared the spread of Communism to South Vietnam
  • South Vietnam was corrupt and had a harsh government, the USA backed it because it was anti-Communist
  • First, American advisers sent in to help South Vietnamese armed forces
  • Before, many Americans were aware what was developing, substantial numbers of US troops were stationed in Vietnam
  • After the death of President Kennedy in 1963, America's involvement in Vietnam greatly increased
  • By the end of 1965, 180,000 US soldiers were fighting in Vietnam
  • By 1969, the figure was half a million (500,000)
  • Communist countries such as USSR and China were greatly suspicious of American motives
  • From American point of view, the war was becoming increasingly disastrous
  • Many South Vietnamese supported Communism and hated the American invaders who had brought death and destruction to their land
  • Many Americans wanted the US to withdraw from Vietnam
  • Students held anti-war demonstrations at universities
  • One of the worst incidents took place at Kent State University in Ohio, May 1970
    • A peaceful student demonstration turned violent when National Guard was sent in to disperse the students
      • 4 students were kiled

SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks) 1

  • 1972
  • Focused on restricting strategic armaments
  • USSR and USA agreed to limiting of ABMs (anti-ballistic missile systems)
  • Also agreed to together to limit of offensive strategic weapons
    • Further negotiations to limit all strategic arms
  • The agreement is a major step to break the stalemate in nuclear arms talks