Last modified on April 12, 2020, at 06:06

Reykjavík Summit

Reagan and Gorbachev at Reykjavik

The Reykjavík Summit was a meeting on October 11–12, 1986 between Soviet dictator Mikhail Gorbachev and President Ronald Reagan. At Reykjavik, Reagan famously walked away from the table.[1]

Background

Gorbachev requested a Summit with Reagan in Reykjavik to discuss the stresses competition from the Reagan's defense posture was having on Soviet military spending and economy, and Gorbachev's ability to carryout his plans of restructuring Communist control. Gorbachev told the Politburo in preparation for the Summit, "Our goal is to prevent the next round of arms race. If we do not do this ... will pulled into an arms race beyond our power, and we will lose this race, for we are presently at the limit of out capabilities."[2][3][4][5][6]

A year later, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), which was signed by Reagan and Gorbachev on December 8, 1987.[7]

References

  1. Reagan's Lesson to Obama: 'No Agreement Is Better Than a Bad Agreement', National Review
  2. Notes of Politburo Meeting 4 October 1986, Gorbachev's instructions for the group preparing for Reykjavik
  3. http://www.margaretthatcher.org/document/110620
  4. http://www.thereaganfiles.com/the-summits.html
  5. http://www.turmoilandtriumph.org/coldwar/reykjavik_summit.php
  6. http://www.hoover.org/research/crack-ice-legacy-reykjavik-summit
  7. 1986: Reykjavik summit ends in failure, BBC