The "New Cold War" (roughly 1979–1985) was an intensive reawakening of tensions between the US and USSR, marking the abrupt collapse of 1970s détente. Triggered by the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, this period saw escalated arms races, proxy wars, and severe diplomatic breakdown, largely fuelled by differing interpretations of détente, third-world conflicts, and increased security concerns.

Causes of New Cold War

There were many developments in international relations that gave a setback to détente and helped in re-originating Cold War:

  1. Changes in the US Foreign Policy under President Reagan –

The American decision:

  1. To re-secure the US status as number 1 power in world politics.
  2. To reject Nixon-Kissinger view that the only alternative to détente was war.
  3. To stop over-selling détente, gave a big blow to détente spirit.
  1. Irresponsible Soviet View – The Reagan administration held the view that Soviet conduct in Angola, Middle-East, and UN was irresponsible and detrimental to the US interest and the spirit of détente.
  2. The US attempts to cultivate relations with Eastern Europe and China, with a view to check Soviet influence - The US Foreign Policy even during 1970s involved the attempt to increase the division between China and Soviet Union, with a view to secure a strategic advantage vis-à-vis the Soviet Union by cultivating relations with China.
  3. The US role in Nicaragua, El Salvador and Grenada – The US attempt to forcibly maintain its superior influence over these states was strongly opposed by soviets. They regarded it as renewed American attempts at the containment of the spread of communism.
  4. Soviet intervention in Afghanistan – The soviet’s attempts at keeping leftists in power in Afghanistan and the subsequent soviet interventions in Afghanistan were regarded by the US as a big violation of détente which was designed to increase soviet power in the gulf region. America once again became convinced that the ultimate aim of soviet policy in the West Asia was to reach the warm waters of Persian Gulf. It was regarded as a serious threat to American interest in the region as well as to American relation with the gulf countries. The soviet action in Afghanistan definitely gave a big blow, almost a death blow to the détente of 1970s.
  5. US policies designed to counter soviet influence – Apprehending a serious soviet threat to American interest and power in Asia, the Reagan administration decided: -
    1. To strengthen its naval base at Diego Garcia by making it a nuclear base as well as the main base for organising and strengthening the defence and security of Persian Gulf.
    2. To strengthen and arm Pakistan as a frontline state against threatened soviet expansionism in West Asia.
    3. To organise and deploy rapid deployment force in Persian Gulf.
    4. To strengthen Washington-Beijing-Islamabad-Tokyo cooperation with a view to counteract the soviet role in Asia and to check the growing Indi-Soviet and Soviet-Vietnam relations and Moscow-Kabul access.
    5. To go in for the Strategic Defence Initiative Program, popularly known as Star War Program or the Militarization of Space Program.
    6. To keep at bay, the SALT-II agreement.
    7. To install perishing, cruising and MX missiles in Western Europe with a view to strengthen its security against soviet threat.
    8. To go in for an increased production of more and more sophisticated weapons, to secure a superior position arms race and to refrain from Geneva talks on disarmaments.
    9. To increase American power and influence in Indian Ocean.
    10. To give extensive aid to Kenya and Somalia.
    11. Boycott the Olympic Games in Moscow in 1980.

All these US policies were criticised by Soviet Union as these were policies designed to harm soviet interest and measures designed to revitalise Cold War in international relations.

  1. Soviet Policies designed to check US influence in different parts of the globe – Several soviet policies were strongly opposed by the Americans as these were regarded by them as policies designed for limiting US role in world politics. The following soviet policies were mainly responsible for inviting strong reaction from the USA: -
    1. Soviet backed Cuba’s role in Angola.
    2. Soviet intervention in Afghanistan and its decision to keep its forces in this strategically important area of Asia.
    3. Soviet backed Cuba’s role in Ethiopia.
    4. Presence of soviet brigade in Cuba.
    5. Deployment of SS-20, new medium range soviet missiles in Eastern European countries.
    6. Soviet help and support to leftists in Latin American states.
    7. Increasing soviet influence in West Asia and growing friendship between Moscow and New Delhi and Moscow and Hanoi (Capital of Vietnam).
    8. Soviet decision to strengthen its military base in Africa.
    9. Increasing soviet influence in Indian Ocean.
    10. Soviet policy of increasing its influence in West Asia and Gulf.

All these soviet policies were viewed by the Americans as dangerous developments which posed a serious danger to American interest in world politics in general and Asia, Africa and Latin America in particular.

Along with these factors, the failure of attempts towards disarmament, the destabilization of peace in West Asia as a result of the continued Iran-Iraq war, the failure of disarmament front, the failure of Geneva talks, the failure of two summit meetings between the US President Reagan and the Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev, the increasing arms race between the two superpowers, the extensive militarisation of Pakistan by the US, the continued Soviet presence in Afghanistan, the Soviet plan for Asian security and American apprehension, inability of the rich nations to accommodate poor developing nations etc. all combined together to end the détente of the 1970s, and to bring back Cold War in international relations.

The continued rift between China and USSR added a new dimension to New Cold War. The emerging Washington-Beijing-Pindi-Tokyo Axis versus Moscow-Hanoi-Kabul-New Delhi Axis came as very dangerous developments.

The increased complexity of international relations resulted in ever increasing gap between North and South, the reduced role of the UNO, the inability of NAM to pursue the attainment of several desired objectives, all combined to give the New Cold War era a more dangerous outlook.