"We pursued another of our major objectives: that of seeking means to lessen tensions with the Soviets and ways to prevent war and keep the peace. Now, this policy is now paying dividends—one sign of this in Iceland was the progress on the issue of arms control. For the first time in a long while, Soviet-American negotiations in the area of arms reductions are moving, and moving in the right direction—not just toward arms control, but toward arms reduction. … So, if there's one impression I carry away with me from these October talks, it is that, unlike the past, we're dealing now from a position of strength. And for that reason, we have it within our grasp to move speedily with the Soviets toward even more breakthroughs. … So, there's reason, good reason for hope. I saw evidence of this is in the progress we made in the talks with Mr. Gorbachev."—Ronald Reagan, from his "Address to the Nation on the Meetings with Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev in Iceland," October 13, 1986 How did meetings like this one affect the nature of American foreign relations? Many nations lost respect, seeing the meetings as a weakened resolve against Soviet power. They reinvigorated the U. S. commitment to staying out of rebellions against Communist rule. Many nations began seeking assistance with their own arms-reductions treaties and talks. They helped bring about an end to the Cold War and created new diplomatic relationships.