Ostpolitik

NATO and the Warsaw PactDuring the Cold War most of western Europe was aligned with the United States through membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), while the Soviet Union maintained garrisons in its satellites under the terms of the Warsaw Pact.

Ostpolitik, (German: “Eastern Policy”) West German foreign policy begun in the late 1960s. Initiated by Willy Brandt as foreign minister and then chancellor, the policy was one of détente with Soviet-bloc countries, recognizing the East German government and expanding commercial relations with other Soviet-bloc countries. Treaties were concluded in 1970 with the Soviet Union, renouncing the use of force in their relations, and with Poland, recognizing Germany’s 1945 losses east of the Oder-Neisse Line. The policy was continued by Chancellor Helmut Schmidt.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Maren Goldberg.
Citation Information
Article Title: Ostpolitik
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 10 November 2023
URL: https://www.britannica.comhttps://www.britannica.com/event/Ostpolitik
Access Date: November 21, 2024