Reykjavík Summit facts for kids
The Reykjavík Summit was a very important meeting held during the Cold War. It took place in Höfði, a house in Reykjavík, Iceland, on October 11–12, 1986.
This meeting brought together two powerful leaders: Ronald Reagan, who was the President of the United States, and Mikhail Gorbachev, the leader of the Soviet Union. They met to talk about peace and reducing the number of nuclear weapons.
Even though the talks seemed to fail at the very end, the progress made during this summit was crucial. It later led to a major agreement in 1987 called the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. This treaty helped to remove many dangerous missiles.
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What Was the Reykjavík Summit?
The Reykjavík Summit was a special meeting between the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union. These two countries were the main players in the Cold War. The Cold War was a long period of tension and rivalry, but without direct fighting, between them.
The goal of the summit was to discuss how to make the world safer. Both leaders wanted to talk about reducing their nuclear weapons. These weapons were very powerful and could cause a lot of damage.
Who Were the Leaders?
The two main people at the summit were:
- Ronald Reagan: He was the President of the United States. He believed in strong defense but also wanted peace.
- Mikhail Gorbachev: He was the leader of the Soviet Union. He was a new kind of leader who wanted to make changes and improve relations with other countries.
They met in a historic house called Höfði in Iceland. Iceland was chosen because it was a neutral country. This meant it did not take sides in the Cold War.
Why Was This Meeting Important?
The talks at the Reykjavík Summit were very intense. Both leaders had big ideas for how to reduce nuclear weapons. They discussed getting rid of all nuclear missiles that could travel medium distances.
However, the meeting ended without a final agreement. This was because they could not agree on one key issue. The United States wanted to continue its research on a defense system called the Strategic Defense Initiative. The Soviet Union wanted this research to stop.
Even though they didn't sign a treaty right away, the summit was still a big step forward. It built trust between the two leaders. The ideas discussed in Reykjavík paved the way for future agreements. Just one year later, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty was signed. This treaty was a huge success in reducing nuclear weapons.
Images for kids
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The former french consulate, called Höfði, was the site of the Reykjavík Summit in 1986.
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Negotiations.
See also
In Spanish: Cumbre de Reikiavik para niños
