7. The Euromissile Crisis (1977-1987)
The Euromissile Crisis, spanning from 1977 to 1987, was a pivotal period during the Cold War that intensified tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union, particularly concerning the deployment of intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Europe. In response to the Soviet Union’s deployment of SS-20 missiles, NATO initiated the “Double-Track Decision” in 1979, which involved both seeking arms control negotiations and preparing to deploy U.S. Pershing II and Ground-Launched Cruise Missiles (GLCMs) in Western Europe. This decision led to widespread public protests across Western Europe, with millions opposing the deployment of new nuclear weapons on the continent. The crisis concluded with the signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 1987, which eliminated an entire class of nuclear weapons from Europe (ecfr.eu).
