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The Search for Detente
1963-1975
Why?
• The end of the Cuban Missile Crisis: The Test- ban Treaty, 1963:both sides
feared for a nuclear war which neither would win
• By 1970's both superpowers were suffering from economic difficulties and
were ready to reduce military spending
• Relations between China and the US began to improve in 1971: The SU
Determined to improve relations with The US
• Western European leaders favored détente: willy Brand from BRD for Ost –
politic ( the end of the Hallstein doctrine)
• Changes in leadership : Khrushchev dismissed, Bresnev became president of
The SU in 1964, Kennedy assassinated in 1963
• Some satellite states like Romania and Albania calling for the communist
independence: a more independent foreign policy ( West- China): made The
SU cautious and lenient towards the US
How?
• SALT 1 signed in 1972: Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty to limited the
number of long range missiles each side could have
• A Ceasefire in the Vietnam War in 1973 (other problems in the US: The Oil
Crisis of 1973, Watergate Scandal in 1974: Nixon forced to resign in 1974)
• The Helsinki Accord in 1975
• Two Germanies recognized each other in 1972
Set backs of the détente
• The Prague Spring of 1968
• The Vietnam War : 1964-75
The Vietnam War: 1964 -75
1) The Background
• The Indochina War 1945-54, Kennedy´s military solutions, 1961-62
• The Cold war context and the Indochina situation, Containment and the Domino Theory (
Eisenhower- Kennedy- Johnson). Eisenhower´s New Look: Ho Chi Minh was seen as an
instrument of international communism
• The Impact of the Korean war: the implementation of NSC 68: more money for the
military and more money to the French in Vietnam ( The US were funding almost 80 % of
the French military budget)
• Search for new alliances ; SEATO South East Asia Treaty ( Australia, New Zealand,
Thaland, Philippines, Pakistan, US, FR, Britain) against the threat of communism
• The Indochina War ; the French were finally defeated in Diem Bien Phu
- the Geneva Agreement of 1954-55: Vietnam divided into two along the
17th parallel ( Communists still controlled 2/3 country) and national
elections coming up in two years..
- The US refused to sign the agreement, but promised not to break it by
force, elections not be held: communists would have won any elections
- the Growth of US involvement; catholic Diem appointed as prime
minister, Kennedy´s military solutions
Kennedy’s Flexible Response
• Attacked ” the loss of China”
• Had supported McCarthy’s campaigns
• ” Vietnam was a cornerstone of the free world in Southeast Asia” ( K, 1956,
p. 126)
• Dean Rusk and Robert MC Namara as advisors
• Increase in the US conventional military forces: The US should be ready to
fight limited wasr in Asia and in Europe ( if needed)
Kennedyś military solutions, 1961-62
• Increased economic aid and sent extra military advisors to South Vietnam:
Search and Destroy- missions