Détente is described as a period of improved relations between the United States and the Soviet Union starting in 1971, aiming to release tension between the two superpowers.
During this period, known as détente, both the United States and the Soviet Union engaged in a series of diplomatic initiatives and agreements that aimed to ease tensions and promote cooperation. The period is often associated with the policies pursued by President Richard Nixon and his National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger.
One of the key features of détente was the establishment of arms control agreements between the two superpowers. This included the signing of the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I) in 1972, which aimed to limit the number of strategic nuclear weapons possessed by both countries. This was followed by the signing of the SALT II treaty in 1979, although it was never ratified by the U.S. Senate due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
Another important aspect of détente was the increased diplomatic engagement and cultural exchanges between the two nations. This included the opening of official embassies in Washington D.C. and Moscow, as well as the expansion of trade and economic relations. The period also witnessed various high-level meetings between U.S. and Soviet leaders, such as the historic 1972 summit between Nixon and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev.
However, détente faced several challenges and setbacks. The ongoing Cold War rivalry, ideological differences, and regional conflicts often overshadowed the cooperative efforts. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, for example, strained relations and led to a deterioration of détente. Additionally, the United States' continued support for anti-Soviet forces in regions such as Nicaragua and Angola undermined the spirit of cooperation.
Overall, while détente brought some degree of stability and reduced tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union, it ultimately proved to be a fragile and short-lived period. Nonetheless, it paved the way for future negotiations and laid the groundwork for arms control agreements that played a crucial role in the ultimate end of the Cold War.