Cold War Agreement Definition
The Cold War was a period of political and military tension between the United States and the Soviet Union that lasted from the end of World War II in 1945 until the early 1990s. During this time, the two superpowers engaged in a number of proxy wars, espionage, and military buildups that kept the world on edge.
As tensions began to ease in the late 1980s, however, both sides sought ways to prevent a catastrophic nuclear war. One of the most important agreements to emerge from this period was the Cold War Agreement, which was signed in 1990 by US President George H.W. Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
The Cold War Agreement was a set of arms control measures designed to reduce the risk of war between the two superpowers. The agreement was comprised of three main components: the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), and the Treaty on Open Skies.
START was designed to limit the number of strategic nuclear weapons held by the United States and the Soviet Union. Under the treaty, both sides agreed to reduce their arsenals to no more than 6,000 warheads and 1,600 delivery vehicles.
The CFE treaty, meanwhile, aimed to limit conventional military forces in Europe. The treaty placed limits on the number of tanks, artillery, and other weapons that could be deployed by either side, and required regular inspections of military sites to ensure compliance.
Finally, the Open Skies Treaty allowed the United States and the Soviet Union to conduct unarmed reconnaissance flights over each other`s territory. This was seen as an important confidence-building measure, as it allowed both sides to monitor each other`s military activities and prevent misunderstandings or miscalculations.
Overall, the Cold War Agreement was a significant achievement in arms control and global security. By reducing the risk of nuclear war and establishing trust-building measures between the two superpowers, the agreement helped pave the way for further progress in international relations.