Detente
Cold War Tensions Decline
Can the policy of CONTAINMENT and
threat of BRINKMANSHIP continue?
COLD WAR AROUND THE WORLD
RED: Communist Expansion
GOLD: Prevented Communist Expansion
Détente
• 1969-80-A Policy of reduced Cold War tensions
Dealing with other nations in a practical
and realistic manner
• Détente defined:
Richard Nixon
• 1969-74- Pushes foreign policy of Détente
• 1st U.S. President after WWII to visit China
• 1972 visits Soviet Union & signs SALT I treaty
SALT Treaty
• Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty
• Limits level of ballistic missiles of each country
• Nixon and Brezhnev sign the SALT treaty (1972)
Willy Brandt
• Chancellor of West Germany
– desired improved relations with the Soviets
• Willing to recognize East Germany as a state and
Poland’s western border
Reading
• Detente
Jimmy Carter
• Attempts to negotiate further reduction in level of
nuclear missiles
1979- Salt
President 1976-1980
II Fails
Congress refuses to pass treaty
1st Sign of Soviet Weakness?
1979-88 Soviets invade Afghanistan
Soviets try to prevent fall of Communist Government
Ended in failure, Soviets retreat 1988
After 1979 Soviet Union invades Afghanistan
1980 U.S. boycotts Moscow Olympics
1980 Détente Ends
1979 Iranian Revolution
• U.S. supported Shah of Iran overthrown
– Religious dictatorship seizes power
• 60 American hostages held for 444 days
– President Carter loses popularity
• Iran becomes strict Islamic Government
Ayatollah Khomeini