Despite the peaceful surrender of the Soviet Union at the end of the Cold War, Reagan’s administration saw this nation as an “evil empire." It was a communist empire that was imperial in nature by invading Afghanistan with the assistance of chemical and toxic weapons and had suppressed Polish solidarity. Reagan was able to install self confidence in the nation in order to combat the Soviets better than the preceding presidents. This would inspire the military build-up to compete with the communists. An American race to arms would further cripple the communist government when if the Soviets try to keep up the competition. If and when the Soviets could ill-afford to compete they would be forced to relax Cold War tensions in terms that would be favorable for the United States.

Therefore, Reagan began a policy of increasing federal expenditures on the military for the next seven years. The plan seemed to lead to victory. By 1985 Reagan felt that the soviets had a leader that was now willing to form a friendly relationship with the U.S. The new leader called Mikhail Gorbachev. From this relationship, an Intermediate range Nuclear Forces Treaty emerged, which led to cuts in long-range weapons and many Soviet concessions on reducing of arms. Gorbachev also urged Yasir Arafat to renounce terrorism; he also withdrew troops from Afghanistan, and allowed for political settlements in Angola and Cambodia. These concessions that the Soviet Union traditionally stood firm on would supposedly help end the Cold War.

The Soviet Union could no longer remain staunch and stubborn in the Cold War.