The key features of Détente, 1970-1975

The key features of Détente, 1970-1975

1. The Moscow Summit

   • May 1972 - Nixon and Brezhnev set out the basis of the new relationship between their countries
     • SALT I, The culmination of Strategic Arms Limitations Talks, was at the heart of the meeting

2. SALT I 1972

   • Negotiations between US and USSR on topic of arms limitations - started November 1969
     • Talks held in private - to allow superpowers to share sensitive info
       • May 1972 - Nixon and Brezhnev signed 2 agreements collectively known as SALT I
   • The Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty
     • Restricted USA and USSR to 2 anti-ballistic missile shields each
     • Each anti-ballistic missile shield was restricted to 100 missiles
     • The further development of anti-ballistic missile technology was restricted - An Oversight Commission was established to enforce this aspect
   • The Interim Agreement on Offensive Missiles
     • The interim agreement limited the number of missile launchers as follows
       • Missile launchers
         • USSR 1618
         • USA 1054
       • Submarine based launchers
         • USSR 740
         • USA 656
     • was due to last 5 years in anticipation of a full agreement to be drawn up in 1977
   • Significance
     • SALT I was significant because it changed the relationship between the powers
       • Treaty signalled that they were willing to work together to limit the production and stockpiling of nuclear arms - rather than engage in an arms race

3. The Basic Principles Agreement

   • Moscow summit also agreed on the Basic Principles Agreement
     • made up of 12 fundamental principles - designed to underpin superpower relations
       • Included an acceptance that the superpowers would co-exist peacefully, recognise eachother as equals, exercise restrain in crisis time, and avoid confrontations
         • Meeting also agreed on Joint Commercial Commission which negotiated trade deals between the powers
           • Basic Principles Agreement was significant because, for the first time, it introduced a series of rules governing aspects of the superpower relationship
             • In this sense - it made the relationship more stable

4. European Ostpolitik

   • European nations on both sides of iron curtain were involved in their own form of Détente
     • Known as Ostpolitik
       • In practice involved European govts working together to address the problems created by a divided Europe
         • West Germany particularly committed to Ostpolitik
   • 1970-1971 East and West German govts negotiated the Berlin Agreement - guaranteed the borders of West Germany
     • Was significant because - before agreement - Eastern Bloc had refused to formally recognise the existence of West Germany
       • Ostpolitik was important for Détente - it further stabilised superpower relations

5. The Helsinki Accords 1975

   • Set out a comprehensive framework governing relations between Eastern and Western Europe
     • The agreement tackled 3 aspects of European politics - became known as 'baskets'
       • Helsinki Accords were significant because they established a framework for managing a divided Europe
   • Basket 1: Security Measures
     • European states pledged to respect one another's sovereignty
       • In practice, this meant that European states would not interfere in one another's affairs
         • European states promised to respect borders, and they accepted the possibility that borders might change through peaceful negotiation
   • Basket 2: Economic, cultural, scientific and environmental issues
     • European states pledged to cooperate on matters of mutual interest and to foster good trading relations across Europe
       • To this end, they agreed to share Western technology with the East
   • Basket 3: Human Rights and Travel
     • European states pledged to respect the human rights of their citizens
       • Also pledged to relax travel restrictions across Europe

6. The Unlooked-for significance of the Helsinki Accords

   • Helsinki Accords led to unforeseen problems for East Europe and the USSR
     • Economic cooperation agreed to in basket 2 highlighted the inferiority of communist economies
       • Goods produced by Western Europe were more sophisticated and higher quality
         • In this sense, the baskets led to 'ideological subversion'
           • They led citizens in the Eastern Bloc, and the USSR, to question the efficiency of the communist economy - undermining the legitimacy of communist rule
   • Basket 3 also led to unforeseen problems
     • Travel restrictions from West to East were relaxed
       • Led to establishment of business relationships across Iron Curtain
         • Through these contacts, citizens of Eastern Bloc and USSR learned of Western European culture
           • Specifically - learnt of freedom of press - freedom of speech and religion and democracy
             • In this way - Eastern Europeans discovered a more attractive alternative to communist rule
   • The Helsinki Accords, and the trade and travel that were initiated, clearly played a significant role in undermining the legitimacy of the Communist regimes in Eastern Europe and the USSR