What events led to the eventual thaw in Cold War relations?

The thaw in Cold War relations was primarily due to détente policies, the Helsinki Accords, and the end of the arms race.

The Cold War, a period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States, was marked by a constant threat of nuclear war. However, several key events led to a thaw in these relations, beginning in the late 1960s. The first significant factor was the policy of détente, initiated by US President Richard Nixon and his Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger. Détente, which means 'relaxation' in French, was a strategy aimed at easing the tensions between the two superpowers through diplomatic and economic engagement rather than military confrontation.

The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) were a crucial part of this détente policy. SALT I and II were negotiations between the US and the Soviet Union that aimed to curb the arms race. These talks resulted in two treaties: the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM) and the Interim Agreement on Offensive Arms. The ABM Treaty limited the number of anti-ballistic missile sites each country could have, while the Interim Agreement froze the number of strategic ballistic missile launchers. These agreements marked a significant step towards reducing the threat of nuclear war.

Another significant event was the Helsinki Accords, signed in 1975. This was a major diplomatic agreement between 35 nations, including the US and the Soviet Union. The Accords recognised the borders of Europe as they were at the end of World War II, effectively acknowledging the Soviet Union's sphere of influence in Eastern Europe. However, they also included provisions on human rights, which would later provide a basis for dissident movements within the Soviet bloc.

The end of the arms race also played a significant role in the thawing of Cold War relations. The Soviet Union's economic difficulties, coupled with the increasing cost of maintaining parity with the US in terms of military technology, led to a reassessment of its foreign policy. The appointment of Mikhail Gorbachev as the General Secretary of the Communist Party in 1985 marked a shift towards more cooperative international relations. His policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) aimed to reform the Soviet economy and society, which also had a positive impact on relations with the West.

In conclusion, the thaw in Cold War relations was a complex process that involved a combination of diplomatic initiatives, arms control agreements, and changes in domestic policies