Question

Answer the following in detail with reference to the given points.

 Elaborate the period of Détente.

1. meaning
2. initiatives taken by superpower to reduce tensions

Answer 1

1. Meaning of détente: Détente refers to efforts to bring about a reduction in tensions between the USA and the USSR. This was an attempt by the two 'superpowers' themselves. The Cuban Missile Crisis brought in a realisation of a possible nuclear confrontation and the need to de-escalate the tensions.
2. Initiatives taken by the superpowers to reduce tensions: After the Cuban Missile Crisis, both the USA and the USSR made several efforts at reducing bilateral tensions (detente). This included (a) a hotline was set up between main leaders of the two nations; (b) the signing of agreements such as NNPT and LTBT to reduce nuclear weapons (c) the 1972 Moscow Summit between President Nixon (USA) and Brezhnev (USSR).
   Other initiatives were –
   
   1.  Conference in Paris (1973) to bring the Vietnam crisis to an end.
   2. The Helsinki conference on security in Europe (1975) was attended by 35 nations, including the USA and the USSR. It aimed to reduce the tensions between eastern and western European countries.
   3. The first joint US-Soviet space flight was the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (1975).
   4. The USA held a conference at Camp David in 1978 to resolve the long-pending Arab-Israel dispute. The ‘Framework for Peace in the Middle East’ was signed between President Carter (U8A) President Sadat (Egypt) and Prime Minister Begin (Israel).