Malta Summit
Brent Scowcroft and other members of the US administration were initially concerned that the proposed Malta Summit would be premature. They feared it would generate high expectations but result in little more than Soviet grandstanding. French President François Mitterrand, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and key members of the United States Congress prevailed upon President Bush to meet with Chairman Gorbachev. This internal debate occurred during late 1989 as European leaders pushed for a direct dialogue. The pressure from allies created a political necessity for the meeting despite American hesitation. Bush ultimately agreed to travel to the Mediterranean after these diplomatic interventions.
Stormy weather and choppy seas resulted in some meetings being cancelled or rescheduled off the coast of Marsaxlokk. The Soviet delegation used the missile cruiser Slava while the US delegation had their sleeping quarters aboard another vessel. These ships anchored in a roadstead near the Maltese village of Marsaxlokk. International media gave rise to the moniker the "Seasick Summit" due to the difficult conditions. The meetings ultimately took place aboard Maksim Gorkiy, a Soviet cruise ship chartered to West German tour company Phoenix Reisen. The choice of venue was inspired largely by President Bush's fascination with World War II President Franklin D. Roosevelt's habit of meeting foreign leaders on board naval vessels.
Marshal of the Soviet Union Sergei Akhromeyev served as military affairs adviser to Gorbachev during the talks. Alexander Bessmertnykh acted as Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister alongside Anatoly Dobrynin who had been Ambassador to the United States from 1962 to 1986. Eduard Shevardnadze appeared as Soviet Foreign Minister while Alexander Yakovlev served as chief ideologist of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. James Baker led the U.S. Secretary of State team and Robert Blackwill held the role of Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. Jack F. Matlock Jr. represented the nation as U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union. Condoleezza Rice participated then as Director for Soviet and East European Affairs at the National Security Council. John H. Sununu served as White House chief of staff and Paul Wolfowitz was Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.
US President George Bush presented all participants of the conference with a piece of the Berlin Wall. It was gathered on a presidential mission in which two pilots and four soldiers with sledgehammers were sent to Berlin. They collected fragments that were given to the President and others distributed to members of the 207th Aviation Company. Speaking at a joint news conference the Soviet leader announced an end to the Cold War. In reply President Bush said he believed the declaration marked a new era of cooperation. This token gesture symbolized the physical removal of division between East and West during December 1989.
On the 2nd of February 1945 Malta was the venue for the Malta Conference prior to their Yalta meeting with Joseph Stalin. That earlier gathering involved US President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill agreeing on a post-war plan for Europe. The Malta Summit of 1989 signaled a reversal of many decisions taken at the 1945 Yalta Conference. News reports referred to the event as one of the most important since World War II when leaders met to shape the future. The choice of Malta as a venue was highly symbolic because the islands are strategically located where east meets west. Malta declared its neutrality between the two superpowers in 1980 following the closure of British military bases.
News reports of the time referred to the Malta Summit as one of the most important since World War II. David Hoffman wrote about Bush and Gorbachev hailing new cooperation in the Washington Post on the 4th of December 1989. Richard Lacayo published an article titled Turning Visions into Reality in Time magazine on the 11th of December 1989. CNN conducted Cold War Interviews including Episode 23 featuring an Interview with George H.W. Bush about the Wall coming down. These contemporary accounts reflected public perception regarding the declaration of an end to the Cold War. The summit is viewed by some observers as the official end of the Cold War though whether it was truly such remains a matter of debate.
No agreements were signed at the Malta Summit during the meeting held on the 2nd of December 3, 1989. Its main purpose was to provide the two superpowers with an opportunity to discuss rapid changes taking place in Europe. The summit marked the lessening of tensions that were the hallmark of that era for four decades. During the summit President Bush expressed his support for Gorbachev's perestroika initiative and other reforms in the Communist bloc. Scholars continue to evaluate the long-term significance of the summit and arguments concerning its actual impact on global history remain divided. The event signaled a major turning point in East-West relations even if no formal treaties were produced.
Common questions
What was the purpose of the Malta Summit between George Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev?
The main purpose of the Malta Summit was to provide the two superpowers with an opportunity to discuss rapid changes taking place in Europe. The summit marked the lessening of tensions that were the hallmark of that era for four decades.
When did the Malta Summit take place on the 2nd of December 1989?
No agreements were signed at the Malta Summit during the meeting held on the 2nd of the 3rd of December 1989. The event signaled a major turning point in East-West relations even if no formal treaties were produced.
Where did the Malta Summit meetings occur off the coast of Marsaxlokk?
The meetings ultimately took place aboard Maksim Gorkiy, a Soviet cruise ship chartered to West German tour company Phoenix Reisen. These ships anchored in a roadstead near the Maltese village of Marsaxlokk due to stormy weather and choppy seas.
Who attended the Malta Summit as key members of the US administration and Soviet delegation?
US President George Bush led the American team while Marshal of the Soviet Union Sergei Akhromeyev served as military affairs adviser to Gorbachev during the talks. James Baker led the U.S. Secretary of State team and Eduard Shevardnadze appeared as Soviet Foreign Minister.
Why was the location of Malta chosen for the summit between the United States and Soviet Union?
The choice of venue was inspired largely by President Bush's fascination with World War II President Franklin D. Roosevelt's habit of meeting foreign leaders on board naval vessels. Malta declared its neutrality between the two superpowers in 1980 following the closure of British military bases.
All sources
4 references cited across the entry
- 2newsThe Malta Summit: Reporter's Notebook; Superpowers Cooperating, But Not SeasMaureen Dowd — 3 December 1989
- 3webThe Malta Summit : Today's Schedule2 December 1989
- 4webShips Off Malta Site For Seaborne Summit2 November 1989