Detente, a noun, refers to a period of eased tensions and improved relations between two countries, especially rivals in a tense situation. In the context of AP World History, it specifically describes the easing of Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union during the late 1960s and 1970s. A key example is the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT), which aimed to limit the production of nuclear weapons by both superpowers.
The significance of this period lies in its potential to reduce the risk of nuclear war and foster cooperation on matters of mutual interest. It allowed for increased trade and cultural exchange between the Eastern and Western blocs. Furthermore, it created opportunities for addressing regional conflicts through negotiation rather than direct confrontation, contributing to a more stable international environment, however temporary.
