What is Détente?
'''Détente''' (pronounced day-tont) is a word that means less [[wikt:tension|tension]] and a better relationship between two [[country|countries]]. The main example of a détente was during the [[Cold War]]. In the 1970s, [[the United States]] and [[the Soviet Union]] improved relations. Both signed several [[treaty|treaties]] which reduced the amount of [[Nuclear weapon|nuclear weapons]] each country had. During this time period, as [[China]] began to dislike the Soviet Union, the United States tried to make friends with China, giving the Soviet Union a disadvantage during the Cold War. This was often called “playing the China card.” Détente primarily was concerned with relations between the US and USSR but other countries like China, [[West Germany]], and most of the [[Europe|European]] states also played their role in developing it. Their motives were mixed. The US proposed this because they did not want to have to go to war with USSR which would lead to all out [[nuclear war]]fare. The literal and original use of the word meant to undo a crossbow, the detention of the cord that launched the arrow. ==Related pages== *[[Appeasement]] *[[Cold war]] {{DEFAULTSORT:Detente}} [[Category:International relations]] {{politics-stub}}