President Reagan's Foreign Policy

President Reagan's Foreign Policy

• Reagan denounced the Soviet Union as the "Evil Empire," highlighting the threat it posed to democracy and freedom.
• Authorized a significant military buildup during his administration, including the increase of nuclear arsenals and the creation of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI).

Covert Actions and Support

• The Reagan administration covertly funded anti-government fighters in Nicaragua, known as the Contra rebels.
• Authorized aid to Mujahideen forces in Afghanistan fighting against the Soviet military invasion.
• Supported authoritarian anti-communist dictatorships in Latin America, including regimes in El Salvador and Guatemala.

Key Treaties and Events

• Signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1987, eliminating an entire class of nuclear weapons.
• US forces invaded Grenada in 1983 after a coup by hardline members of the leftist government.

Leadership and Policy Changes

• Mikhail Gorbachev rose to Soviet leadership in March 1985, introducing transformative policies known as glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring).
• Reagan’s famous phrase at the Brandenburg Gate was, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" emphasizing the call for the Berlin Wall’s dismantling.

Historical Milestones

• The Berlin Wall came down in 1989, symbolizing the end of the Cold War.
• The 'Evil Empire' speech was delivered in 1983 to emphasize the moral responsibility to oppose communism and totalitarianism.

Scandals and Relations

• Warmer relations between the US and the Soviet Union during Reagan's second term were facilitated by dialogue and summit meetings with Gorbachev.
• The Iran-Contra affair involved secret arms sales to Iran to facilitate funding for Contra rebels in Nicaragua.
• The primary consequence of the Beirut bombings in April and October 1983 was a reevaluation of US military involvement in Lebanon, leading to reduced American presence in the region.