what was Nixon's policies of engagement
with foreign policy strategies used during the cold war?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_nixon
Click on 6.1 Foreign Policies and other topics of interest in the Contents box.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_war
Richard Nixon's policies of engagement, also known as the Nixon Doctrine or the policy of détente, were a series of foreign policy strategies employed during the Cold War. These strategies focused on improving relations with both the Soviet Union and China while trying to limit the spread of communism worldwide. To understand Nixon's policies of engagement, we can break it down into three key elements:
1. Détente with the Soviet Union: Nixon aimed to ease tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union, shifting from the confrontational approach of previous administrations. This policy included several aspects:
- Negotiating and signing arms control agreements, such as the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT), to limit the arms race and reduce the risk of nuclear conflict.
- Engaging in cultural and scientific exchanges to foster better understanding and build trust between the two nations.
- Pursuing economic cooperation, including trading agreements and increased economic ties, to promote stability and discourage conflict.
2. Opening relations with China: Nixon sought to establish diplomatic relations with China, a country that had been isolated from the international community for several decades. His approach involved the following:
- Secretly initiating talks with Chinese officials, eventually leading to his historic visit to China in 1972, which marked the normalization of relations between the United States and China.
- Using this newfound relationship with China as a means to apply pressure on the Soviet Union. The rapprochement with China changed the geopolitical balance and helped constrain the Soviet Union's influence.
3. Vietnamization: While not directly related to engagement with the Soviet Union or China, Nixon's Vietnamization policy was a crucial element of his overall foreign policy. It involved gradually shifting the burden of combat in the Vietnam War from American troops to the South Vietnamese forces. The objective was to reduce American casualties and increase the chances of a negotiated settlement to end the war.
To summarize, Nixon's policies of engagement during the Cold War were characterized by attempts to improve relations with the Soviet Union via détente, establishing diplomatic ties with China, and gradually withdrawing American forces from Vietnam through the Vietnamization policy. These strategies aimed to reduce tensions and promote stability in the international arena, ultimately shaping the geopolitical landscape of the time.