Key U.S. Policy Influencing End of the Cold War

As the Cold War drew to a close, various factors contributed to the reduction of tensions and the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union. One key aspect was the shift in U.S. foreign policy under President Ronald Reagan, who took office in 1981. His administration employed a range of strategies that shifted American approaches toward the Soviet Union. Understanding these strategies is crucial to assessing whether they directly influenced the end of the Cold War. Which of the following policies is often credited with playing a pivotal role in the de-escalation of East-West tensions and the eventual conclusion of the Cold War?