Key Features of Detente

Outer-Space Treaty 1967:

• Stopped the arms race spreading to space.
• Both superpowers said that they wouldn't have nuclear weapons in space.

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty 1968:

• Neither country would supply weapons to other countries to aid their development.
• This stopped other countries being engulfed by the arms race.

SALT 1 (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks) 1972:

• Signed in 1972, it successfully limited the number of weapons they had.
• It imposed limits on the nuclear capability of the USA and USSR.
• They agreed there would be no production of ballistic missiles.
• Submarines would only be produced when the nuclear missiles ran out.

Helsinki Conference 1975:

• Security -> Recognition of Europe's borders - USSR accepted that West Germany existed and that it did not belong to them.
• Cooperation -> There was a need for closer economical, cultural and scientific links between the superpowers. This would lead them to closer political agreement.
• Human Rights -> Each superpower agreed to respect their citizens human rights. E.g. thought, speech etc.
• This stabilised the situation in Europe as there was greater cooperation between the superpowers and their European allies.

Apollo-Soyuz Mission 1975:

• A joint mission between the USA and USSR.
• The US Apollo space craft docked with the Russian Soyuz craft in space.
• The 60s was a competetive space race but this represented cooperation between the superpowers.