Foreign policy of the Reagan administration

Foreign policy of the Reagan administration

During the presidency of Ronald Reagan from 1981 to 1989, American foreign policy focused on the Cold War. Reagan wanted to reduce the power of communist governments.

The United States supported groups fighting against communist rule in places like Afghanistan, Angola, and Nicaragua.

Reagan had strong views about some countries. By 1982, his team saw Libya, the Soviet Union, and Cuba as big challenges.

In the Middle East, many things changed. The United States pulled troops out of Lebanon after a dangerous attack. The 1979 Iran hostage crisis made relations with Iran difficult, and during the Iran-Iraq War, the U.S. supported Iraq.

One famous event was the Iran-Contra affair. This involved secret arms sales to Iran to fund groups in Latin America.

Many believe Reagan’s policies helped weaken the Soviet Union. After he left office, many countries in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union moved away from communist rule.

Appointments

Reagan's foreign policy team included important leaders like George H. W. Bush, William J. Casey, Robert McFarlane, George Shultz, and Caspar Weinberger. These people helped shape the United States' relationships with other countries during Reagan's time as president.

Eastern Europe and the USSR

Further information: Reagan Doctrine and Rollback

Ronald Reagan had strong friendships with important leaders around the world, especially Margaret Thatcher in Britain and Brian Mulroney in Canada. Together, they worked to support freedom and democracy and to stand up to the Soviet Union during the final years of the Cold War.

Reagan changed the way the United States dealt with the Soviet Union. Instead of relaxing tensions, he decided to confront the Soviet Union more directly. His plan included making it harder for the Soviet Union to get advanced technology, cutting down the value of Soviet goods worldwide, spending more on U.S. defense, and pushing the Soviet Union to spend more on its own defense. The biggest sign of this was a large buildup of American military power.

Reagan also supported groups fighting against communist governments. His administration helped anti-communist fighters in places like Afghanistan, Angola, and Nicaragua. In Afghanistan, U.S. forces trained and equipped groups fighting the Soviet Army during the Soviet–Afghan War. Reagan believed these efforts helped weaken the Soviet Union.

Reagan introduced many new military plans, including the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), which he called a way to make nuclear war impossible.

Reagan spoke strongly about the Soviet Union. Later, when Mikhail Gorbachev became leader of the Soviet Union in 1985, Reagan began negotiating with him. Gorbachev introduced reforms called perestroika (restructuring) and glasnost (openness).

In a famous speech at the Berlin Wall in 1987, Reagan challenged Gorbachev to “tear down this wall!” This moment is remembered as one of Reagan’s most powerful statements. As Gorbachev worked to change his country, Reagan supported him, hoping the Soviet Union would adopt freer ways of living. By the time Reagan left office, tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union had eased, and the Cold War was coming to an end.

Asia

China

Ronald Reagan first supported Taiwan but later agreed to keep friendly relations with the People's Republic of China. He promised Taiwan support through the "Six Assurances" and worked with China on important issues. When Reagan visited China in 1984, he was welcomed warmly.

Reagan also supported plans for space travel, allowing American satellites to be launched using China's Long March rockets. Some people thought this might slow down America's own space programs, but the plan continued for many years.

Japan

The United States and Japan had many trade problems during Reagan's time in office. Japan made many cars and other products, and some people in America worried that American companies couldn't keep up. In 1981, Japan agreed to limit how many cars they sent to America each year.

Pakistan and India

Pakistan was an important friend for the United States during this time because it helped fight against Soviet forces in Afghanistan. The United States gave Pakistan money and weapons, including helicopters and airplanes.

India had a slower relationship with the United States at first but tried to buy some American technology for its military. By the late 1980s, both countries worked harder to improve their friendship.

Afghanistan

When Reagan became president, Soviet forces had entered Afghanistan. Reagan wanted to stop the Soviets, so he supported Afghan fighters called the mujahideen. The United States sent them many weapons and money through a secret operation called Operation Cyclone. The Soviet troops finally left Afghanistan in 1989.

Cambodia

Reagan also wanted to help people in Cambodia who were fighting against Vietnamese forces. He gave secret help to some groups there. Reagan hoped this help would end the Vietnamese control of Cambodia.

Indonesia and East Timor

Indonesia, led by General Suharto, took control of East Timor in 1975. Reagan continued to sell weapons to Indonesia even though there were reports of human rights problems there.

Philippines

The United States kept strong ties with the Philippines because of important military bases there. Reagan supported the leader of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos. When Marcos lost a fair election in 1986, the United States helped make sure power moved peacefully to the new leader, Corazon Aquino.

Western Europe and Poland

United Kingdom

President Reagan made good friends with leaders around the world, especially Margaret Thatcher of Britain and Brian Mulroney of Canada. Though they were different, Reagan and Thatcher shared many ideas. They both cared about creating jobs, cutting taxes, and building strong defenses against the Soviet Union. They believed in liberty and free markets, and in standing up to what Reagan called 'the evil empire.'

Holy See

The United States and the Vatican did not have formal diplomatic relations for many years. Sometimes, presidents sent special representatives to talk with the Pope about important world issues. In 1984, the U.S. and Vatican City agreed to establish diplomatic relations. The Senate approved William A. Wilson as the first U.S. ambassador to the Vatican. Some Protestant groups objected.

Poland

The United States supported the Solidarity movement in Poland, led by Lech Wałęsa. The Communist leader, Wojciech Jaruzelski, tried to control the country without help from the Soviet Union. In 1981, he cracked down on opposition groups. The U.S. protested. After Jaruzelski banned labor organizations in 1982, Reagan placed economic sanctions on Poland. Eventually, other European countries did the same. Martial law ended in 1983. The Reagan administration helped fund Solidarity and worked with the Pope to support forces opposed to Communism in Poland.

Middle East

Iran–Iraq War

Further information: United States support for Iraq during the Iran–Iraq War

When the Iran–Iraq War began after the Islamic revolution in Iran in 1979, the United States stayed neutral at first. But as the war grew worse, the Reagan administration secretly helped Iraq. They were worried that Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini was a bigger threat to peace than Iraq’s leader, Saddam Hussein. The U.S. thought an Iranian win might encourage Islamic fundamentalists in other countries like Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Kuwait.

Later, the U.S. gave secret help to Iraq, including information and money. In 1988, Reagan ordered an attack on Iranian ships after an attack on a U.S. ship.

Israel

Israel became a "major non-NATO ally" in 1989, meaning it got more weapons and chances to buy from the U.S. The U.S. gave Israel about $3 billion each year and made a free trade deal in 1985. Things got tricky when Israel bombed a nuclear site in Baghdad, and the U.S. stopped sending some weapons. But overall, the U.S. still strongly supported Israel.

Iran–Contra affair

Main article: Iran–Contra affair

Some White House staff tried to bypass rules that stopped secret military help to groups fighting in Nicaragua. They sold arms to Iran and used the money to help these groups. President Reagan said he didn’t know about this plan but admitted he agreed to sell arms to Iran, hoping to free American hostages.

Lebanon

Main articles: Multinational Force in Lebanon and 1983 Beirut barracks bombing

In 1983, Reagan sent American troops to Lebanon to help prevent more fighting. But on October 23, 1983, a bombing killed many American service members. After this, Reagan pulled the troops out of Lebanon.

Libya

Main article: 1986 United States bombing of Libya

Relations between the U.S. and Libya were always tense during Reagan’s time. In 1986, after a bombing in Berlin that hurt American troops, Reagan ordered air strikes against Libya to stop their harmful actions.

Saudi Arabia

Reagan worked closely with Saudi Arabia to keep the country safe. The U.S. agreed to sell advanced weapons to Saudi Arabia, which helped strengthen their friendship. Reagan pushed hard for these sales, believing they were important for regional security.

Americas

President Reagan helped anti-communist governments in Guatemala and El Salvador, and groups called the Contra rebels in Nicaragua. He watched as democratic changes happened in Bolivia, Honduras, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Suriname.

When a fight happened between the United Kingdom and Argentina over the Falklands islands in 1982, Reagan had to balance promises to both sides. The U.S. chose to support the United Kingdom.

Nicaragua

Reagan thought the government of Nicaragua was a problem. He helped groups called the Contras who tried to change the government. This help came from nearby Honduras. There were big debates in the U.S. about helping the Contras.

El Salvador

In El Salvador, Reagan wanted to stop a group called the FMLN from taking control. The U.S. helped the government, but there were concerns about how people were treated.

Guatemala

Reagan also supported the leader of Guatemala, even when there were concerns about how people were treated.

Grenada

In 1983, the U.S. sent troops to Grenada after the leader there was removed. Reagan said this was needed because Grenada was working too closely with countries the U.S. did not trust. The fight was quick, but it caused some disagreement around the world.

1982 Falklands War

Main article: Falklands War

When Argentina and the United Kingdom fought over the Falklands islands in 1982, Reagan had to decide where to stand. The U.S. had promises to help both countries, but chose to support the United Kingdom. This decision was made after careful discussion.

Oceania

Australia

In the early 1980s, the Reagan administration wanted to use Australia to test new long-range missiles. They asked to use the Tasman Sea as a target area because their current test ranges were too small. The old Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser, had agreed to help watch the tests. But the new Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, changed his mind and took Australia out of the testing plan. Some people in his party opposed the tests and supported New Zealand's anti-nuclear views.

Even with this disagreement, Australia kept its close ties with the United States through the ANZUS treaty. This treaty is a security agreement between Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Australia still let US Navy ships visit its ports and work together on military exercises, unlike New Zealand.

New Zealand

In the mid-1980s, New Zealand's new Prime Minister, David Lange, decided that no nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed ships could enter New Zealand waters. This was because of worries about nuclear weapons and disagreements with US policies during the Cold War. Because of this choice, the United States could not confirm if its ships carried nuclear weapons, so New Zealand would not let any US Navy ships into its ports.

This caused big issues between the United States and New Zealand, especially because New Zealand was part of the ANZUS treaty with the United States and Australia. The Reagan administration felt that New Zealand's decision did not match its strong Cold War policies. As a result, the United States stopped some of its defense promises to New Zealand until they allowed US Navy ships back. But the United States kept the ANZUS treaty active, hoping New Zealand might change its mind.

New Zealand made a law in 1987 to make the whole country a nuclear-free zone, but it stayed part of the ANZUS alliance. The United States kept its research program in Antarctica, flying military planes through Christchurch on the way to bases there.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Angola

Further information: Jonas Savimbi, Reagan Doctrine, and UNITA

During President Ronald Reagan’s time, Angola had a long and hard war. The country was split between groups helped by Western countries and others helped by communist nations. The Reagan administration supported fighters in Angola called UNITA, led by Jonas Savimbi. They gave them weapons and training. This help from the United States and its friends was important in facing the communist forces in the area.

South Africa

Main article: South Africa under apartheid

South Africa, when Reagan was president, used a system called apartheid, which treated people unfairly because of their race. Reagan’s administration used a policy called “constructive engagement,” meaning they talked with the government instead of using strong actions like sanctions. Many people, including famous activist Desmond Tutu, thought this was not enough and said Reagan should have done more to stop apartheid. Later, Congress made stronger laws against apartheid, but Reagan at first tried to stay away from them.

Zaire

Further information: Mobutu Sese Seko

Mobutu Sese Seko, the leader of Zaire, was friends with the Reagan administration. Mobutu visited the White House many times, and Reagan spoke well of him, even though some people worried about how Mobutu treated the people in his country.

Human rights

Reagan talked about the sad loss of many people during World War I. He was the first U.S. president to use the word "genocide" to describe what happened to the Armenian people at that time.

In 1985, Reagan went to a cemetery in Germany to honor soldiers who had died in World War II. Some of the people buried there had been part of a harsh military group. Many people, including groups that work to stop unfair treatment, were upset about this visit. Because of this, Reagan also visited a place where many people had been treated very badly during the war.

In 1986, the United States agreed to follow international rules to help protect people from being hurt or killed, with some special conditions for the United States. This decision was made after the visit to the cemetery and was a way to respond to people's concerns.