Detente 1969-1979

By Becbecbecbec

  • Temporary Detente

    After Cuban Missile Crisis, USSR/ US were shocked over how close they had come to Mutually Assured Destruction and so underwent a series of diplomatic endeavours in order to prevent any such occurrence in the future. Lasting between 1963 and 1964;
    - Installed the Moscow-Washington Hotline
    - US removed ICBMs from Turkey- NTBT
    - UN agreed no nuclear weapons in space
    - USSR Ceased jamming radio signals
    - Agreed Vietnam war wouldn't impact relations.
    After Khrushcehv's removal, detente stopped.

  • Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

    U, USSR and UK sign treaty prohibiting the testing of nuclear weapons in space, underwater or in the atmosphere. Was one of the first steps towards the control of the arms race and nuclear developments. JFK signed treaty which had been in negotiations since 1955, before his assassination.

  • Strategic Arms Limitation Talks

    Between President Johnson (USA) and Premier Kosygin (USSR), talks on the limitations of nuclear weapons begin.

  • Czechoslovakian resistance to Soviet Occupation stops

    Realising that the troops are permanently stationed in Czech, revolts and resistance subsides.

  • Dubcek is arrested and reforms are dropped

    Dubcek is arrested by Soviet Troops, his reformist policies are reversed and abolished, and he is replaced with a more conservative leader

  • Dubcek becomes Czechoslovakian leader

    Novotny, a conservative pro-Moscow leader, resigns, and Dubcek, a reformer, takes his place, and begins implementing reforms such as;
    - abolishment of censorship
    -establishment of competitive retail markets
    - Decollectivisation
    - Trade Unions
    -Freedom of travel
    - Reopened West German boarder (closed since 1948) Began to discuss the establishment of non-communist parties- Brezhnev and Politburo were highly concerned

  • Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

    Signed between 5 nuclear states; USSR, US, PRC, France and Germany. Restricted nuclear testing to only those countries. Agreed not to transfer nuclear weapons to other countries or to assist other states to manufacture them

  • USSR invades Czechslovakia

    500,000 Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact troops with tanks move into Prague where they are met with little resistance aside from the 250,000 Czech students who climb onto the tanks and argue with the soldiers

  • Brezhnev Doctrine

    Leonid Brezhnev released a doctrine justifying Soviet interference in Czech region. Stating that communist nations are entitled to interfere in the affairs of other communist countries that appear to be turning from communism to capitalism. Russian version of Eisenhower's 'Domino Theory' Forbade the countries in the Soviet Bloc to leave the Warsaw Pact or to attempt to overthrow and get rid of any communist presence. Codified limits of De-Stalinisation.

  • Ostpolitik introduced

    Willi Brandt, West German Chancellor introduces policy of 'Ostpolitik', the opening of West Germany to relations with East Germany and the USSR. West acknowledged its place in the split Europe and attempted to reduce Cold War tensions as it was on the 'frontline'. Followed De Gaulle's encouragement of Detente, solidifying the ideology in Europe, away from the USSR and USA

  • Vietnamisation

    Nixon begins to withdraw US troops and put responsibility of fighting on South Vietnamese troops.
    By end of 1970, 280,000 troops had been withdrawn.
    By 1971, only 140,000 remained
    Last troops left on 29th March 1973

  • Operation Linebacker

    North Vietnam leader had launched Easter Attacks on South Vietnam (1972) and captured a SVN city. Nixon launched Operation Linebacker in response, bombing NVN, demonstrating he was a tough negotiator.

  • Nixon visits USSR

    President Nixon (1969-1974) visits USSR in order to discuss actions of US and USSR in Vietnam War (1955-1975)- had just announced US decision to mine 7 North Vietnamese ports which would have interrupted USSR supplies to North Vietnam.

  • SALT is agreed

    Between 22nd and 30th of May, Nixon and Brezhnev discuss arms limitations- agreed on the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty- had two parts;
    - Treaty of the limitation of Anti-ballistic missiles (as the US bragged about its ability to develop AMBs, which made the USSR highly nervous, leading to frantic Soviet arms development)
    - Interim Agreement (lasting 5 years) on the limitation of strategic offensive arms. Limiting ICBMs and Submarine-launched BMs. Didn't ban MIRVs or new bombs

  • Nixon and Brezhnev sign Commercial agreements

    While in USSR, Nixon and Brezhnev establish commercial agreements between the USSR and the US;
    -Establishing a Joint Trade Union; to improve trade between countries.
    - USSR promised to purchase over $750 million of US grain over 3 years in return for $300 million in US credit Also dealt with the USSR's outstanding Lend Lease debt

  • Paris Peace Talks

    NVN leader and National Security Advisory (Henry Kissinger, USA) met in France to discuss an end to the Vietnam War.
    Talks are suspended when SVN 'balks' them, NVN leaves in disgust.

  • Christmas Bombings

    To bring NVN back to the negotiating table, Nixon launches an intensive 11 day bombing regime on NVN, using the 20,000 troops still stationed in SVN.

  • Paris Peace Talks Concluded

    NVN returns to Peace Talks to negotiate, an agreement is signed, ending the Vietnam war and removing any future formal US involvement. Between 1955 and 1975, 500,000 to 1.5 million Vietnamese people were killed in the war. The Ceasefire broke down soon after and US did not come to the aid of SVN in 1974. Saigon was taken by Communist NVN forces on 30th April 1975.

  • Helsinki Accord

    35 nations attend conference at European Security Council on security and co-operation. Sign a treaty;
    - European nations guaranteed each other's post-WW2 borders.
    members agreed not to upset them by force
    - Human Rights for citizens in sanctioned countries- USSR made to accept and ensure the rights for citizens in its spheres of influence
    - promised t safeguard independence of European Nations Promises of conference were vague, and not followed by USSR until Gorbachev rose to power.

  • SALT 1 runs out

    Terms of SALT 1 ends

  • Brezhnev and Cart begin talks on SALT 2

    At Vienna conference, Brez and Carter finally sign SALT 2. Agreed on terms;
    - limitation of 2400 strategic nuclear launchers until 1981, then 2250 for every preceding year.
    - limitation of 1320 MIRV BMs and Air-Launched Missiles (ALCM)
    - Notification of nuclear testing to be given
    -Exchange of information on nuclear arsenals
    - Verification of satellite technology not to impede either side SALT 2 was never ratified by Congress or Politburo after USSR invades Afghanistan