Detente, derived from the French word meaning “relaxation,” refers to the strategic easing of tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, particularly in the 1970s. Marked by landmark agreements such as SALT I, Nixon’s Moscow visit, and the Helsinki Accords, it represented a cautious move from confrontation toward cooperation. Although détente eventually collapsed after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, it reshaped international diplomacy by proving t...
