Foreign policy in the USSR in 1953-1964. History of the USSR

The revision of the foreign policy course in the USSR began after Stalin's death. In the 50's. Malenkov began to talk about "detente" of tension in international relations. Let us next consider the distinctive features of Soviet foreign policy in 1953-1964.

Peace treaties

The foreign policy of the USSR in 1953-1964 was primarily aimed at establishing peaceful, mutually beneficial cooperation with foreign countries. At the initiative of the Soviet leadership, many agreements were signed. Thus, in 1953, on July 27, an armistice agreement was concluded in Korea. As the main means of easing tensions in the world arena, the country's leadership saw expansion of spheres of cooperation with other states. In 1955, on January 25, the Presidium of the Supreme Council adopted the Decree, which terminates the state of war with Germany. In September of the same year, the head of the German government arrived in Moscow. During the visit, diplomatic relations were established with West Germany. In 1955, in mid-May, an agreement was signed with Austria. In accordance with it, the state of war was also terminated. The document established state sovereignty and guaranteed neutrality.

In 1956, the USSR returned the leased territory of Finland - Porkkala-Udd, where the naval base of the Union was located. In mid-June the Karelian-Finnish Union Republic was transformed into an autonomous republic. In the same 1956, October 19, Japan and the USSR adopted a declaration on the restoration of diplomatic relations and the cessation of the military situation. By the end of the 1950s, the Soviet Union was bound by trade contracts with more than 70 states.

Foreign Policy of the USSR 1953-1964 (briefly)

Key areas were identified at the 20th Party Congress. Khrushchev announced at the meeting that there was no inevitability of the next world war, pointing to the possibility of different ways of transition to a socialist system and peaceful neighborhood of countries with different political systems. The documents of the Congress emphasized the Soviet Union's loyalty to the principles of independence and sovereignty in cooperation with foreign countries. At the same time Khrushchev asserted that the coexistence of states in the world appears as a specific type of class struggle. It excludes only military methods and does not extend to ideology. In 1957, the Foreign Ministry was headed by a large diplomat Gromyko. The foreign policy department was under his leadership until 1985. Gromyko made a great contribution to the development of the negotiation process on the issue of establishing control over the arms race.

Changes in Military Doctrine

In 1956, a certain contradiction in the foreign policy of the USSR in 1953-1964 was manifested. A number of foreign countries formed blocks whose activities were directed, among other things, to restraining the influence of the states of the socialist camp and the formation of the national liberation movement of the colonial peoples.

In 1956, the military doctrine of the Soviet Union was subjected to changes. They were caused by the transition from mass use on the battlefield of soldiers to a nuclear-missile confrontation. The world's first ballistic intercontinental missile was successfully tested in 1957. It had a considerable range and could reach the territory of the United States. Since 1959, the serial production of these missiles was launched, followed by the equipping of air defense forces, air and ground forces, and the construction of an underwater nuclear missile fleet began. America, watching all this, realizes that the Soviet Union could well strike back in the event of a new war.

Conflict with the US

Despite the active build-up of the nuclear missile potential, the USSR's foreign policy of 1953-1964, Was oriented nevertheless to cooperation with states in various spheres. Key to this was the relationship with the United States. From September 15 to September 27, 1959 Khrushchev paid a visit to America. During it, Nikita Sergeyevich was received by Eisenhower, spoke at the National Press Club and at the UN General Assembly, met with farmers and businessmen. In the summer of 1961, a reciprocal visit by the American president was planned. But on May 1, during his stay on the podium of the Mausoleum, Khrushchev learned that a US spy had entered the airspace of the country and was shot down near Sverdlovsk. The Soviet leadership sent a note of protest. In response, the Government of America announced a "navigation error" because it did not know that the pilot of the aircraft, contrary to instructions, remained alive, and did not blow himself up. Accordingly, he was taken prisoner. The Soviet authorities made public the testimony of the pilot and caught the United States in lies. Eisenhower refused to apologize. His visit to the USSR was canceled.

New negotiations

Foreign policy of the USSR in 1953-1964. Presupposed a rigid positioning of the country on the world arena in the conditions of building up the military-industrial potential. This, undoubtedly, increased international tension. In early June 1961, the Soviet leadership held negotiations with Kennedy in Vienna. At the meeting, the parties tried to discuss the German issue and ban nuclear testing. Khrushchev proposed signing a peace agreement with the two Germanys in accordance with the actual boundaries, declaring West Berlin a free city. But this proposal was rejected. In turn, Kennedy could not achieve the establishment of a ban on nuclear testing. On August 13, the Berlin Wall was erected. It became the real embodiment of the "Iron Curtain" that divided Europe. In September, the Soviet Union, abandoning the agreement with America to ban nuclear explosions, conducted a series of tests.

Caribbean crisis

Foreign policy in the USSR in 1953-1964. Was focused primarily on the establishment of military parity with the United States. In 1962, there was a danger for bilateral relations. The situation got aggravated in connection with the decision of the Soviet Union to place arms in Cuba with medium-range missiles. America, in turn, began preparations for the invasion. However, almost at the last moment, a telephone conversation took place between Khrushchev and Kennedy, during which the leaders managed to reach a compromise. As a result, the United States withdrew rockets from Turkey, and the Soviet Union - from Cuba.

The Caribbean crisis is considered the apogee of the confrontation between the USSR and the West. After him began a period of relative relaxation. In 1963, an agreement was concluded in Moscow between the Soviet Union, Britain and America on the prohibition of nuclear tests under water, in space and in the atmosphere. In a short time more than 100 states joined the agreement. After the death of Kennedy and the displacement of Khrushchev, the process of detente was interrupted.

ATS

Foreign policy in the USSR in 1953-1964. Was aimed at establishing interaction not only with Western countries, but also with the nearest neighbors. The socialist camp at that time included Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Czechoslovakia, the GDR, Hungary, Albania. Having united with the Soviet Union, they created the Warsaw Pact (Warsaw Treaty Organization). Its participants undertook obligations to provide mutual assistance in the event of a military threat, cooperation in the work to ensure security and peace. In addition, consultations were planned on issues relating to common interests. From that moment the formation of a united army, a common command began.

COMECON

Foreign policy in the USSR in 1953-1964. Envisaged large-scale assistance to countries of the socialist camp in the construction of industrial facilities in their territories. The key center of relations was the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA). The key areas of cooperation were:

1. Coordination of national economic plans.
2. Trade.
3. Cultural connections.
4. Interaction in the field of science and technology.

And this cooperation was subsequently joined by Cuba. In 1958-1964, according to the decision of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, the Druzhba oil pipeline was built, the largest in the world. Its length was more than 4.5 thousand km. In 1959-1962 years. A common energy system "Mir" was created. It connected the networks of the Soviet Union and the socialist countries of Europe. Most of the costs were borne by the USSR. The Soviet leadership also tried to establish relations with Yugoslavia. In 1955, a declaration was signed between the representatives of the countries, according to which the directions of cooperation in the cultural, economic and scientific fields were identified.

Conflicts

Features of foreign policy of the USSR in 1953-1964. Consisted in the determined striving of the Soviet leadership to establish socialism. However, the influence of the "thaw" conditioned the processes of democratization and de-Stalinization in some allied states. Disputes between countries began to appear. Basically, they were connected with the retreat of the Soviet Union from established principles and with its open interference in the internal affairs of other states. In mid-June 1953 in East Berlin, speeches for the unification of Germany began. In the summer of 1956 demonstrations were held in Poland. Workers who demanded the overthrow of communism were on strike here. As a result, the country was replaced by leadership. In October 1956, an uprising broke out in Hungary. Under the pressure of anti-socialist forces, the leadership of the state announced its withdrawal from the ATS. However, in early November, Soviet troops were introduced into the country, which suppressed the Hungarian uprising.

Foreign policy in the USSR in 1953-1964. Thus showed the determination of the leadership to preserve the model of socialism in the countries of South-Eastern and Central Europe.