Detente was a permanent relaxation in international affairs during the Cold War rather than just a temporary relaxation (the so-called “thaw”). Detente is a term usually associated with the relations between America, Russia and China. 

The reasons for the detente were : 

• The horrors of Vietnam shocked people. 

• There was a growing fear of a nuclear holocaust. 

• China – she was fearful of her isolation in the world. China was also worried by her worsening relations with USSR. 

• USA – she realized that war meant the massive cost of weapons production and maintaining a huge armed force. A peaceful relationship with the USSR would be very beneficial to USA especially after the cost of the Vietnam War. 

USSR – USSR was spending a huge amount on weapons at the expense of basic household goods. Living standards were poor and USSR was also aware that her relationship with China was far from good while USA was trying to improve hers with China. To make the event a permanent one, USSR and USA established in 1963 a – hot-line after Cuban Missile Crisis; both agreed to only use underground tests for nuclear explosions; in 1969 the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) started; in 1972 Richard Nixon, USA president, visited Moscow; in 1973-Leonid Brezhnev, USSR leader, visited Washington 1974-Nixon visited Moscow. In 1971, a move was made to improve relationships when China invited an American table tennis team to China. Hence, the term “Ping-pong” diplomacy. USA’s response was to support China’s entry into the U.N.