Détente &
New Cold War
2011
Détente
French for “relaxation”
The term is often used in reference to the general easing of relations
between the Soviet Union and the United States in the 1970s, a thawing
at a period roughly in the middle of the Cold War.
A Temporary
Thaw 1972-1980
Nixon & Mao Zedong
Nixon & Brezhnev
Why détente in 1970s?
The horrors of the Vietnam War help to bring on détente!
 1972- Nixon travels to China
 1979- U.S. established formal diplomatic relations with
China.
 1972- Nixon is first president since the Cold War to travel
to Russia.
 The horrors of the Vietnam War help to bring on détente
Cold War
begin again in
1980?
 President Reagan calls the
Soviets the “Evil Empire”
for invading the country of
Afghanistan.
 People of Afghanistan
begin to fight against
Soviet Invasion!
 A call for Muslims
throughout the world to
help the Afghan’s fight
against “atheists” Soviets!
New Cold
War
End of Détente
 Many Muslims from all over
Afghan fighters?
mujahideen
come to help the
Afghanistan mujahideen.
 Osama Bin Laden goes to
Afghanistan to finance and
fight with the mujahideen.
U.S.
Involvement?
CIA help the Afghanistan
rebels fight the Soviets.
 Operation Cyclone was CIA
Operation Cyclone
program to arm & finance
the Afghan mujahideen
during the Soviet war in
Afghanistan, 1979 to 1989.
 The CIA, the Mujahideen
and Osama bin Laden are
all on the same side of the
war against the Soviets!
 Reagan wants to deal with
The New Cold War
begins!
the Soviets from a position
of strength
 He convinces Congress to
spend $100 billion in his
first 5 years of office on
military spending.
 Reagan calls the Soviets the
“Evil Empire” for invading
Afghanistan.
Soviet Vietnam?
 Soviet Vietnam, large world
power is defeated!
 1988- After 8 years of brutal
fighting the Soviets know
they can’t win and
withdraw from
Afghanistan.
 About a 1.5 million Afghans
were killed during the war
 6 million refugees in
Pakistan & Iran
One factor in the
collapse of Soviet
Union!
 By the mid 1980’s, the
Soviet Union began to
crack….
 Economic problems
plagued the Soviet Union as
large sums continued to be
spent on military and war in
Afghanistan.
Gorbachev’s Reforms!
Berlin Wall Comes
down!
1989
End of the Cold War!