détente
Eased international tensions
Détente refers to a relaxation of tensions between nations or groups that have been hostile or in conflict.
The term comes from French and entered English primarily through Cold War diplomacy, describing periods when the United States and Soviet Union pursued less confrontational relations.
It suggests a thawing of hostilities without full resolution—a deliberate stepping back from the brink.
The summit marked a new era of détente between the former rivals.
Discussion seeking mutual accord
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- summitPeak or diplomatic gathering
- accordHarmony between parties
- treatyBinding pact between nations
envoy · ambassador · bilateral · mediation · conciliation · entente · protocol · statecraft
Reducing strain or difficulty
- relaxationState of being unwound
- thawReturn to liquid
- de-escalationReducing conflict intensity
- coolingLosing thermal energy
softening · calming · stabilization · moderation · accommodation · reconciliation · normalization · warming
Soviet transparency reform
- perestroikaSoviet reform initiative
- Nixon37th U.S. president
- BrezhnevSoviet general secretary
- SALTNuclear arms control negotiations
Kissinger · arms control · Helsinki Accords · superpower · nuclear disarmament · thaw · peaceful coexistence · Soviet
Simultaneous presence together
- harmonyAgreement or musical blend
- amityPeaceful mutual regard
- concordMutual agreement, peaceful relations
- stabilityResistance to displacement
nonviolence · pacification · goodwill · friendship · neutrality · nonaggression · accord · reconciliation
negotiation
Discussion seeking mutual accord
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- summitPeak or diplomatic gathering
- accordHarmony between parties
treaty · envoy · ambassador · bilateral · mediation · conciliation · entente · protocol · statecraft · back-channel
easing
Reducing strain or difficulty
- relaxationState of being unwound
- thawReturn to liquid
- de-escalationReducing conflict intensity
cooling · softening · calming · stabilization · moderation · accommodation · reconciliation · normalization · warming · ceasefire
glasnost
Soviet transparency reform
- perestroikaSoviet reform initiative
- Nixon37th U.S. president
- BrezhnevSoviet general secretary
Kissinger · SALT · arms control · Helsinki Accords · superpower · nuclear disarmament · thaw · peaceful coexistence · Soviet · summitry
coexistence
Simultaneous presence together
- harmonyAgreement or musical blend
- amityPeaceful mutual regard
- concordMutual agreement, peaceful relations
stability · nonviolence · pacification · goodwill · friendship · neutrality · nonaggression · accord · reconciliation · cooperation
- negotiationsbargaining, offer, counteroffer, counter offer, compromise
- Cold WarBerlin Wall, Iron Curtain, arms race, Warsaw Pact, Cuban Missile Crisis
- Cold War Diplomacydetente, arms control, summits, SALT talks, START
- compromisecompromise, middle ground, meet halfway, give and take, give-and-take
- diplomacyembassy, ambassador, ambassadors, treaty, treaties
- geopoliticsbalance of power, bipolarity, bloc, blocs, brinkmanship
détentetension
Stretched or strained state
hostility · confrontation · antagonism · cold war · belligerence
détenteescalation
Progressive increase in intensity
aggression · provocation · warmongering · militarization · saber-rattling
détentecontainment
Preventing hostile expansion
rollback · confrontation · hawkishness · hard line · bellicosity
attention, tense, intend, tension, attentive, attendant, intention, intended, pretense