Bush foreign policy

(in line with Helmut Kohl's policy to ally with the West). Invasion of Panama Dec 1989- ... Kuwait refused to forgive large debt and increased oil production which ...
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GEORGE BUSH Only one term of office 1988-92 Former US ambassador to the UN and director of the CIA in the 1970s Reagan’s Vice-President 1980-1988 Conservative domestic policies: tax cuts, increased military spending

Foreign Policy: End of the Cold War: Relations with Gorbachev: Bush supported Gorby’s reforms but had little effect on events – USSR imploded, not a result of any US actions Reunification of Germany: Oct 1990 negotiations with France, Britain, USSR and East and West Germany Gorby accepts US insistance that Germany be part of NATO (in line with Helmut Kohl’s policy to ally with the West) Invasion of Panama Dec 1989- Jan 1990 Middle East: Persian Gulf War 1990-1991

Invasion of Panama: Dec 1989- Jan 1990 Overthrow of Manuel Noriega – corrupt dictator accused of drug trafficking, and money laundering, had previously worked for the CIA US motives: defend democracy and get rid of Noriega who was becoming too independent and could no longer be trusted ( the Panama Canal was being handed over to Panama as of 1999) UN and OAS criticized US actions

Persian Gulf War 1990-91 Background: Iran-Iraq War 1980-88- neither side won Iraq under Saddam Hussein weakened after war Iraq invaded Kuwait in Aug 1990 Hussein claimed that oil fields on their common border were being siphoned by ‘slant drilling’; Kuwait refused to forgive large debt and increased oil production which depressed oil prices and reduced Iraqi oil income UN imposed sanctions on Iraq by cutting off its oil exports Bush demanded that Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait Jan- Feb 1991 « Desert Storm » US led coalition of 30 nations successful invasion of Iraq from Saudi Arabia

Significance of events and policies: • Waning of Cold War – less attention to Russia • Instability in the Middle East • Realignment in Latin America