A new film, ‘The Brink of War,’ explores the nuclear discussions between President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in the late 1980s. The film is based on declassified transcripts and features interviews with key figures, including Secretary of State George Schultz.

Historic Meetings

Reagan and Gorbachev met five times, with their first meeting in Geneva, Switzerland in 1985. The second meeting in Reykjavik, Iceland, marked a turning point in their relationship, as they began to find trust and common ground. The film’s director, Michael Gunn, believes that the story of these meetings can serve as an inspiration for ending today’s conflicts.

The film highlights the Reagan administration’s ambitions for peace, as well as their disappointments. One scene shows Reagan’s doubt over trusting Gorbachev amid the negotiations, as Schultz assures him that it was not the end of talks to find common ground between the two global powers.

Legacy of the Talks

The summit in Iceland paved the way for several more meetings between Reagan and Gorbachev, leading to several peace treaties, including the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF). This treaty required both sides to liquidate a class of nuclear weapons, marking a significant step towards reducing the threat of nuclear war.

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