6.2.1
Key Figures & Summits
Reagan and Bush
Reagan and Bush
In 1980 Ronald Reagan was elected President of the United States. He was committed to anti-communism.
Reagan and 'Star Wars'
Reagan and 'Star Wars'
- Reagan increased US defence spending by $32.6 billion and planned to spend it on: The Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI), nicknamed ‘Star Wars'.
- His plan was to create a system using satellites and lasers to shoot down any missiles that might be launched by the USSR against the USA.
- This plan would have swung the nuclear balance strongly in the USA’s favour.
USSR reaction to 'Star Wars'
USSR reaction to 'Star Wars'
- The SDI alarmed the USSR who thought it would destabilise the ‘balance of terror’.
- This caused the USSR to continue to spend on their nuclear capability. This became a source of tension between Reagan and Gorbachev at all the summits they had between 1985-1988.
- The USSR’s economy was struggling and the cost of matching such a programme was out of their reach.
- They were also very suspicious of the computer-technology that was required to support such a programme and had not invested in it.
The end of the arms race
The end of the arms race
- SDI was the final straw breaker – the USSR could no longer afford to keep up with America in the arms race.
- The British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher condemned Reagan’s ‘Star Wars’ policy however some NATO members supported it, such as the leader of West Germany.
- This exposed the difference of opinion from the NATO members.
Bush and the US response to 1991
Bush and the US response to 1991
- President Bush visited Poland and Hungary in 1989 to show that he would support the shift to democracy.
- From September 1991, the USA established principles by which the new post-USSR republics could receive assistance and recognition in the USA.
- The USA stated that they supported self-determination and recognised borders.
- They also stated that they supported democracy, the rule of law and human rights.
- Russia was given successor status on the seat of the UN Security Council.
Bush and the restriction of nuclear weapons
Bush and the restriction of nuclear weapons
- In 1991, President Bush signed the START Treaty which limited numbers of most types of nuclear weapons by approximately a third.
- This was necessary following the SDI problems as the USSR was greatly alarmed at the deployment of US cruise missiles in Western Europe.
Key Summits
Key Summits
Reagan's SDI led to a series of summits.
Geneva Summit 1985
Geneva Summit 1985
- At this summit, both the USSR and the USA wanted to talk peace. The key points for discussion were:
- Reducing nuclear weapons by 50%.
- Gorbachev hoped to persuade Reagan to drop plans for SDI.
- They also discussed banning chemical weapons.
- There were no concrete outcomes from this meeting.
- However, it was seen as a success because the USSR and USA issued a joint statement saying that ‘a nuclear war must never be fought’.
Reykjavik Summit October 1986
Reykjavik Summit October 1986
- At Reykjavik, discussions were made to limit continental weapons and reduce the range of nuclear weapons, with the view to eliminate them within 10 years.
- Reagan suggested getting rid of all ballistic nuclear missiles but Gorbachev refused to do so if SDI was not dropped.
- There were no concrete outcomes from this meeting.
Washington Summit December 1987
Washington Summit December 1987
- At this meeting, the focus was on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF).
- The Treaty was signed and it stated the elimination of all nuclear missiles with a range between 500-5500 km.
- Stockpiles started to be reduced.
- Gorbachev also decided to withdraw troops from Afghanistan.
- The summit seemed a real success and a signal that the Cold War was ending.
Moscow Summit May-June 1988
Moscow Summit May-June 1988
- Initially, the START Treaty was going to be discussed here, but in the end, it wasn’t.
- Seven cultural and human rights agreements were signed.
- SDI was still not dropped and as a result, discussions were lengthy and difficult.
1Origins of the Cold War, 1945-9
1.1Events of 1945
1.2The Collapse of the Grand Alliance
1.3Developing Tensions
1.4US Involvement in Europe
2Widening of the Cold War
2.1US Containment in Asia
2.2The Korean War
2.3Increasing Cold War Tensions, 1949 -1953
3The Global War
3.2Cold War Rivalries
3.3Conflict in Asia
3.4Confrontation Between Superpowers
4Confrontation & Cooperation
4.2Cooperation
4.3Pressures on the USSR
5Brezhnev Era
5.1Detente
5.2Second Cold War
5.3Developments in Africa & Americas
6Ending of the Cold War
6.1Gorbachev
6.2Cooperation between US & USSR
6.3Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe
6.4End of Tensions Across the World
Jump to other topics
1Origins of the Cold War, 1945-9
1.1Events of 1945
1.2The Collapse of the Grand Alliance
1.3Developing Tensions
1.4US Involvement in Europe
2Widening of the Cold War
2.1US Containment in Asia
2.2The Korean War
2.3Increasing Cold War Tensions, 1949 -1953
3The Global War
3.2Cold War Rivalries
3.3Conflict in Asia
3.4Confrontation Between Superpowers
4Confrontation & Cooperation
4.2Cooperation
4.3Pressures on the USSR
5Brezhnev Era
5.1Detente
5.2Second Cold War
5.3Developments in Africa & Americas
6Ending of the Cold War
6.1Gorbachev
6.2Cooperation between US & USSR
6.3Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe
6.4End of Tensions Across the World
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