Détente

1. Détente

2. Context • “relaxation” • разрядка (all you Chaubs, “loosening of tension”) • Technically began in 1969, Nixon & Ford administrations • Preceded by the installation of a direct hotline between the US and USSR • Ended with USSR invasion of Afghanistan and Reagan’s election (1980)

3. Foundations of DÉTENTE

4. Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty • Goal: prevent spread of nukes through non-proliferation, disarmament, and the right to peacefully use nuclear technology • What does it have to do with détente? • Allaying some of the nuclear tension between the two nations to prevent MAD • Signing started 1968, was completed in 1970 • Recognizes 5 nuclear states (just happen to be the 5 UN permanent SC members) • 190 states have joined • NK has not (along w/ India, Israel, Pakistan and S. Sudan)

5. Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies • …orrrrr Outer Space Treaty • Basis of international space law • Signed by US, USSR, and UK (1967) • After Sputnik and stuff… • Says that “exploration of outer space shall be done to benefit all countries and shall be free for exploration and use by all the states” • No WMDs allowed on moon or celestial body • The state that launches an object into outer space has jurisdiction but also must take international responsibility for it, whether it’s public or privately launched

6. Aaaaand Détente Gets Serious

7. SALT I • Helsinki/Vienna, 1969: bilateral peace talks • Freezes number of strategic ballistic missile launchers • Both sides could add more submarine-launched ballistic missiles if they dismantled the same number of intercontinental ballistic missiles or SLBMs • SALT II in 1979… didn’t work out

8. Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty • ABMT technically ends SALT (1972) • Each country is only given 2 ABM complexes each limited to 100 ABMs • USSR had already built one at Moscow, US had plans to make 12 • US ends up only constructing one in North Dakota (Safeguard Program) which was decommissioned in 1976 • US unilaterally withdraws in 2002

9. Biological Weapons Convention • Signed by 22 nations April 10 1972 went into effect March 26 1975 (now has 170 members) • Article I • Cannot develop/stockpile/retain any microbial or biological agents that are not justifiable for peaceful purposes • Weapons for distributing such agents are banned • Review conferences are a thing • More of a fruit of détente

10. Helsinki Accords • 10 agreements made in 1975 by 35 states • Attempted to improve relations between Communist bloc and the West • Were not binding and didn’t have real treaty status • 10 agreements, among them: • Sovereign equality, not threatening to use or using force, respect of borders/territory, cooperation between states, respect for human rights and international law, non-intervention in internal affairs

11. http://www.history.com/topics/detente/speeches#fords-address-at-the-helsinki-conferencehttp://www.history.com/topics/detente/speeches#fords-address-at-the-helsinki-conference

12. Détente was a bit of a struggle… • Conflicts in S. Asia/Middle East were basically proxy wars • US supported right wing groups in Latin America when any leftist threat arose • Vietnam • Weapons remained pointed at each other’s cities • Espionage • General lack of trust

13. Effects of Détente • A world without constant threat of nuclear war • Multilateral approach to solving conflict (sort of) • Improved trade relations • Grain sent from the West to Soviets

14. Collapse of Détente • Soviets invade Afghanistan, US boycotts Olympics, Reagan elected president • Reagan ran on an anti-détente campaign with disdain for the Soviet “evil empire” • Transitions the relationship between US/USSR to “rollback”

15. Sources • http://history.state.gov/milestones/1969-1976/detente