How did Mikhail Gorbachev influence arms-control negotiations in the 1980s?

Mikhail Gorbachev fundamentally transformed arms-control negotiations in the 1980s by shifting Soviet policy toward "new political thinking," which prioritized international interdependence and the reduction of the economic burden caused by the arms race.12

His influence was characterized by several key actions:

• Commitment to Disarmament: Gorbachev proposed a radical agenda to eliminate all nuclear weapons by the year 2000. He moved away from the goal of nuclear superiority, advocating instead for "reasonable sufficiency" in strategic arms.132
• Diplomatic Engagement: He engaged in a series of historic summits with U.S. President Ronald Reagan, beginning in Geneva in 1985, which established a framework for deep cuts in nuclear arsenals.41
• The INF Treaty: In 1987, Gorbachev accepted the U.S. "zero option" proposal, leading to the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. This landmark agreement was the first to abolish an entire category of nuclear weapons and included unprecedented on-site verification procedures.452
• Unilateral Reductions: In 1988, he announced significant unilateral reductions in Soviet conventional forces, signaling a shift toward a "defensive posture" that helped ease Cold War tensions.12

Gorbachev’s willingness to compromise and his focus on economic reform over military expansion were essential in ending the "new Cold War" and fostering a new era of superpower cooperation.12