- Nuclear and Strategic Parity, Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, New form of containment, and Ostpolitik.
I believe that the most impacting contributor to lessening the tensions of the Cold war, was Ostpolitik. It was essentially the policy and effort made to Unite the two Germany's. Many of the efforts and ideas that came with the Detente had am impression in lessening the tension during the cold war for example, Nuclear and Strategic Parity caused the U.S to think of other options as the Russians had the Americans caught militarily at most areas. As a result of thinking around things were done that ultimately lessened the tension between them, another factor that lessened the tension was the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty which stopped the spread of Nuclear weapons. Even though some believed that the Detente was just a new form of Containment, it undoubtedly changed and remedied rising tension.