Who was Richard M. Nixon's major foreign policy achievement?

Richard M. Nixon's major foreign policy achievement was the establishment of relations with China, which marked a significant shift in global diplomacy. In 1972, Nixon made a historic visit to China, making him the first sitting U.S. president to do so since the Communist revolution in 1949. This visit helped to open diplomatic relations between the two nations, which had been largely isolated from each other for decades. By engaging with China, Nixon aimed to leverage the relationship to counterbalance the influence of the Soviet Union during the Cold War, which was key to his strategy of détente—a relaxation of tensions between the superpowers.

This opening to China also had profound implications for international relations, as it reshaped alliances and trade relationships, benefiting both countries economically and politically. The move was seen as a masterstroke of diplomacy that not only altered the balance of power in the Cold War context but also set the stage for China’s emergence as a global economic power in subsequent decades.