The fall of the Berlin Wall was a hallmark event that marked the end of the Cold War. Many Americans give credit to only U.S. President Ronald Regan for ending the Cold War, however, both Regan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev played key roles in ending the Cold War.
Gorbachev was the fourth leader of the Soviet Union during Regan’s Presidency, before he assumed power in 1985 relations between the U.S. and Soviet Union were extremely tense. Just three years into Gorbachev’s rule the U.S. was having their presidential election, the 1988 U.S. presidential election was favorable to the Democrats who are generally more relaxed in their foreign policy, when compared to Republicans who always keep the use of military force on the table. Gorbachev could have opted to escalate the tensions by continuing with the Cold War given Regan’s military build-up or wait to see if there was a change in U.S. foreign policy following the election. Rather he opted to de-escalate the situation.
Both Gorbachev and Reagan in Reykjavik, Iceland in 1986 they were close to achieving a landmark deal where each other would bring their nuclear arsenal to zero. The 1986 talks led to the 1987 signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) …show more content…
Gorbachev let the changes in foreign policy take their course without any hold despite the severe opposition by the Soviet foreign policy and military establishments who viewed their control over Eastern Europe
Gorbachev was the fourth leader of the Soviet Union during Regan’s Presidency, before he assumed power in 1985 relations between the U.S. and Soviet Union were extremely tense. Just three years into Gorbachev’s rule the U.S. was having their presidential election, the 1988 U.S. presidential election was favorable to the Democrats who are generally more relaxed in their foreign policy, when compared to Republicans who always keep the use of military force on the table. Gorbachev could have opted to escalate the tensions by continuing with the Cold War given Regan’s military build-up or wait to see if there was a change in U.S. foreign policy following the election. Rather he opted to de-escalate the situation.
Both Gorbachev and Reagan in Reykjavik, Iceland in 1986 they were close to achieving a landmark deal where each other would bring their nuclear arsenal to zero. The 1986 talks led to the 1987 signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) …show more content…
Gorbachev let the changes in foreign policy take their course without any hold despite the severe opposition by the Soviet foreign policy and military establishments who viewed their control over Eastern Europe