Impact of Vietnam on US Policy

  • failure greatly affected future US policies towards communist states
  • after war US tried to improve relations with communist world

Detente with USSR

  • US sought greater understanding with USSR in this period known as Detente (reduction of tension)

  • 1972 US and USSR signed Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty to reduce nuclear weapons

    • this was result of series of successful bilateral negotiations known as strategic arms limitation talks
  • in 1975 2 parties met again in Helsinki, Finland to discuss borders and human rights

  • at same time US ended its block on the issue of China’s representation at UN and Nixon made visits to China to improve diplomatic relations