End of Cold War Agreement
After decades of political tension and military build-up, the Cold War finally came to an end in 1991. The main contributing factors were the economic collapse of the Soviet Union and the leadership of President Mikhail Gorbachev, who implemented reforms to open up the country and ease tensions with the West. The end of the Cold War was marked by a series of agreements, including the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) and the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE).
The START agreement was signed by the United States and the Soviet Union in July 1991, in Moscow. The treaty called for significant reductions in both countries` nuclear arsenals, with the ultimate goal of reducing the number of strategic nuclear weapons to 6,000 for each side. The treaty was a significant step towards disarmament and a major breakthrough in relations between the two superpowers.
The CFE treaty, signed in November 1990 in Paris, aimed to reduce the number of conventional weapons in Europe. The treaty set limits on the number of tanks, artillery, and other heavy weapons that could be deployed by each side. It also established a verification system to ensure compliance with the treaty`s provisions. The CFE treaty was a key element in the process of reducing tensions between NATO and the Warsaw Pact.
The end of the Cold War also led to the reunification of Germany, which had been divided into two states since the end of World War II. The reunification process was complex and took several years to complete, but it was eventually achieved in 1990. The reunification was a momentous event in European history and helped to cement the end of the Cold War.
Despite the significant progress made towards disarmament and reducing tensions in Europe, there were also some challenges. The collapse of the Soviet Union created instability in the region, with some former Soviet republics breaking away and becoming independent states. There were also concerns about the security of nuclear weapons and materials in the former Soviet Union, which led to efforts by the international community to secure and safeguard them.
In conclusion, the end of the Cold War was a major milestone in world history, marking the end of an era of political tension and military build-up. The agreements and treaties signed during this time helped to reduce the risk of a nuclear war and ease tensions between the superpowers. While there were challenges and uncertainties in the aftermath of the Cold War, the world had taken a significant step towards peace and disarmament.
