Détente and Europe, 1963-1984

Détente

A lessening of tensions in the Cold War After the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1963, many

countries pulled back from confrontation to reduce the chances of nuclear warNuclear Test Ban Treaty (1963) –

• Prohibited testing in outer space, in the atmosphere, and underwater

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1964) –• Nations agreed not to develop nuclear weapons

Nations such as France, China, India, Pakistan, and other nations refused to sign

U.S. and U.S.S.R. Influence

Western European nations became less dependent on the U.S. (especially France)

The Sino-Soviet split allowed many Eastern European states more autonomy

The People’s Republic of China exploded a nuclear bomb in 1964, changing the balance The bipolar U.S.-Soviet global rivalry

moved into a multipolar balance of power.

Better U.S./Soviet Relations

1963 -- Hot line A “hot line” was installed so

that the U.S. president and Soviet premier could defuse a potential crisis

Kennedy and Khrushchev were often forced to communicate through public broadcasts during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Better U.S./Soviet Relations

In 1963, the U.S. agreed to sell large quantities of wheat to the Soviet Union. This new trade relation would expand

to include other goods. Tourism was encouraged. Culture exchanges.

(Ex. Bolshoi Ballet & Louis Armstrong)

The Common Market in Europe

European Community (1967)Worked to end tariffs between member

nation and create a free flow of tradeMembers: France, West Germany, Italy,

Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg Great Britain, Ireland, and Denmark joined

in 1973; Greece in 1981 The EC helped continue the postwar

recovery and break Western Europe’s economic dependence on the U.S.

Charles de Gaulle(President of France)1958-69

Wanted to end Western Europe’s political dependence on the U.S.

Encouraged France to develop nuclear capability Tested bomb in 1960

Began withdrawing French troops from U.S.-dominated NATO in 1959; All French removed by 1967 Demanded that all NATO troops leave France

Envisioned France had head of the Third Force that would stand between the U.S. and the Soviet Union De Gaulle never realized his goal and resigned in

1969.

Soviet Union

Khrushchev was ousted from power in 1964 and replaced by Leonid Brezhnev

The Brezhnev Era, 1964-82 Military spending remained top priority Put an end to Khrushchev’s “de-Stalinization”

campaign Had a stroke in 1976 Economic and political decline; corruption,

favoritism, and alcoholism increase Between 1982-85, Yuri Andropov and

Konstantin Chernenko both die in office

Eastern Europe

Many Eastern European countries attempted to gain some level of autonomy during the 1960s Czechoslovakia tried to adopt liberal reforms The “Prague Spring” of 1968 hoped to produce a more

humane socialism The Soviet Union invaded and Alexander Dubček resigned.

The Soviet invasion involved about 500,000 Warsaw Pact troops and was remarkably well-planned and executed. Only a handful of soldiers died.

More than 80 Czechoslovak citizens were killed and several hundred wounded during a month of clashes following the invasion.

Germany and Détente

Willy BrandtChancellor of West Germany

(1969-74) Proposed Ostpolitik (A hand

offered to the East) In 1972, East and West Germany

recognized each other and were both admitted to the U.N.

U.S. and China Richard Nixon became president in

1969 and wanted to ease cold war tensions; relied on diplomatic skills of Henry Kissinger

Chinese/U.S. relations improved In 1971, Henry Kissinger secretly visited

China. In 1971, the U.N. expelled Taiwan and

seated the People’s Republic; the U.S. did not veto

In 1972, Nixon traveled to Beijing to meet Mao and made recognition an official and public act.

• Before leaving he was given two giant pandas, Hsing-Hsing and Ling-Ling

Ping Pong Diplomacy

The two countries established cultural, economic, and diplomatic relations• U.S. Ping Pong team visits China.• U.S. ends restrictions on travel to

China, ends trade embargoAgreed to the “one-China policy”

(Tawain was part of China)

Détente Agreements

Nixon and Brezhnev signed a series of agreements

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) Suspended the building of ICBMs, capped the

number of a variety of weapons. ABM Treaty

Limited the deployment of antiballistic missiles, designed to destroy incoming missiles

Helsinki Agreements (1975) 33 European nations plus the U.S. & Canada

ratified the results of WWII (boundaries)

Economic Problems and Politics

In 1974-75, an increase in food and petroleum prices combined with an economic recession to create severe inflation in Western Europe.

Conservative governments Helmut Kohl becomes chancellor of West Germany

in 1982. Margaret Thatcher becomes prime minister of G.B.

in 1979. Socialist governments

Francois Mitterrand elected president of France in 1981

Collapse of Détente

By the late 1970s, the optimism that the Cold War had virtually ended had faded.

The continued Soviet military buildup and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 soured relations with the U.S.

As a result the U.S.Failed to ratify the 1979 SALT II Treaty.Boycotted the Olympics in Moscow in 1980.Placed and embargo on U.S. grain shipments

to the Soviet Union.