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Soviet Union [USSR] Britain
In the years immediately following the Bolshevik Revolution,
the Soviet leadership assiduously pursued diplomatic relations with
Britain, the archetypical "imperialist" power, as part of its
efforts to win recognition as a legitimate regime. After World War
II, the Soviet Union perceived Britain as an "imperialist power in
decline," especially after Britain relinquished most of its
colonies. Nevertheless, Britain remained an important power in
Soviet eyes because of its nuclear forces, influential role as head
of the British Commonwealth, and close ties with the United States.
In general, Soviet relations with Britain have never been as
important a component of Soviet foreign policy toward Western
Europe as have been relations with France (especially during the de
Gaulle period) or with West Germany (especially during the Brandt
period). Several reasons for Britain's lesser importance existed.
Unlike West Germany, Britain is not subject to Soviet political
pressures exerted through the instrument of a divided people. Much
smaller than its French counterpart, the British Communist Party
exerted less influence in electoral politics. The British economy
has also been less dependent than that of other West European
states on Soviet and East European trade and energy resources.
In December 1984, shortly before Gorbachev became general
secretary, he made his first visit to London. Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher declared that he was a leader she could "do
business with," an assessment that boosted Gorbachev's stature in
the Soviet Union and abroad. This assessment was repeated upon
Thatcher's visit to the Soviet Union in April 1987. Under
Gorbachev's leadership, the Soviet Union renewed its attempts to
persuade Britain and France to enter into strategic nuclear
disarmament negotiations, which as of 1989 they had resisted.
Data as of May 1989
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