11.2 Foreign Policy: "Evil Empire" and SDI

Reagan's foreign policy towards the Soviet Union marked a dramatic shift in Cold War dynamics. His tough "Evil Empire" rhetoric and increased military spending put pressure on the USSR, while the Strategic Defense Initiative sparked fears of a new arms race.

Despite initial tensions, Reagan's diplomatic efforts with Soviet leader Gorbachev led to groundbreaking summits and arms reduction agreements. This combination of pressure and diplomacy played a crucial role in ending the Cold War and reshaping global politics.

Reagan's Foreign Policy and the Soviet Union

Reagan's 'Evil Empire' rhetoric

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Top images from around the web for Reagan's 'Evil Empire' rhetoric

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• Reagan adopted a confrontational approach towards the Soviet Union, referring to it as an "Evil Empire" that threatened global liberty and democratic values
• Emphasized the need for a robust US military presence to deter Soviet expansionism and aggression (arms race, increased defense spending)
• Rejected the policy of détente and the SALT II arms control agreement, arguing that previous administrations had been overly conciliatory towards the Soviets
• Provided support to anti-communist forces and regimes around the world, including the Contras in Nicaragua and the Mujahideen in Afghanistan (proxy wars)

Impact of Strategic Defense Initiative

• SDI, nicknamed "Star Wars," was a proposed missile defense system designed to shield the US from Soviet nuclear strikes using advanced technologies such as space-based lasers and ground-based interceptor missiles
• Reagan's 1983 announcement of SDI alarmed the Soviets, who believed it would grant the US a substantial military edge and violate the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty
• SDI heightened US-Soviet tensions and sparked a new arms race as the Soviets attempted to develop countermeasures against the system
• The program encountered significant scientific, engineering, and financial obstacles, with critics questioning its technological feasibility and cost-effectiveness (billions of dollars)

Diplomacy and the End of the Cold War

Summits for Cold War diplomacy

• Despite his tough stance, Reagan recognized the importance of diplomacy and fostering personal connections with Soviet leaders to reduce Cold War tensions
• Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev held a series of summits between 1985 and 1988 that helped build trust and cooperation between the superpowers:
  1. Geneva Summit (1985): Established a cordial relationship between the two leaders
  2. Reykjavik Summit (1986): Explored the potential for eliminating nuclear weapons
  3. Washington Summit (1987): Signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, eliminating an entire class of nuclear missiles
  4. Moscow Summit (1988): Celebrated the thawing of US-Soviet relations
• The summits, combined with Gorbachev's reformist policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring), played a crucial role in easing Cold War tensions and fostering dialogue between the US and the Soviet Union

Effectiveness of Reagan's foreign policy

• Reagan's foreign policy achieved mixed results in promoting US interests and countering Soviet influence:
  • Succeeded in exerting pressure on the Soviets and hastening the end of the Cold War by increasing defense spending and the US military presence worldwide
  • SDI and the arms race imposed a heavy economic burden on the Soviet Union, contributing to its financial difficulties and ultimate collapse (1991)
  • Support for anti-communist movements had unintended consequences, with US involvement in regional conflicts (Nicaragua, Afghanistan) proving controversial and some supported groups later turning against US interests (Mujahideen, Taliban)
• Reagan's diplomatic efforts with Gorbachev improved US-Soviet relations, with the INF Treaty representing a landmark arms control agreement that reduced the threat of nuclear war
• The summits paved the way for future cooperation and the eventual end of the Cold War, marking a significant shift in the global political landscape (fall of the Berlin Wall, German reunification, dissolution of the Soviet Union)