Throughout history, certain meetings have stood out as turning points &mdash; moments when leaders sat across a table and altered the world&rsquo;s trajectory. These summits, often born from crisis, combined diplomacy, personal resolve, and high stakes to produce agreements that shaped decades to come.
At Yalta in 1945, Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin redrew the post-war map, laying the foundations for both peace and the Cold War. In Camp David, 1978, Carter&rsquo;s mediation between Sadat and Begin brought an end to decades of conflict between Egypt and Israel, showing how patience and trust could bridge deep divides. The Reykjav&iacute;k summit of 1986nearly abolished nuclear weapons, proving that even failed talks can pave the way for lasting treaties.
Other historic moments &mdash; the Helsinki Accords of 1975 or the secret Oslo talks in 1993 &mdash; have left an enduring imprint on global diplomacy. As Anwar Sadat once said, &ldquo;Peace is more precious than a piece of land.&rdquo;
These summits now rest in the pages of history, serving as both inspiration and warning: dialogue can bring peace, but only if leaders match ambition with action.
<h3 data-start="132" data-end="194">📜 History&rsquo;s Lessons: When Summits Changed the World</h3>
Reykjav&iacute;k, 1986 &ndash; Reagan &amp; Gorbachev A Cold War meeting in Iceland that nearly agreed on abolishing nuclear weapons. Talks collapsed, but it paved the way for landmark arms reduction treaties.
Camp David, 1978 &ndash; Carter, Sadat &amp; Begin US President Jimmy Carter hosted Egypt&rsquo;s Anwar Sadat and Israel&rsquo;s Menachem Begin. The handshake led to the Egypt&ndash;Israel Peace Treaty, ending three decades of war.
Yalta, 1945 &ndash; Roosevelt, Churchill &amp; Stalin Allied leaders mapped the post-war order, dividing Europe into spheres of influence. It set the stage for the Cold War.
Helsinki, 1975 &ndash; Ford, Brezhnev &amp; Europe&rsquo;s Leaders The Helsinki Accords legitimised post-WWII borders and opened channels for human rights dialogue &mdash; a milestone in East&ndash;West relations.
Oslo, 1993 &ndash; Rabin &amp; Arafat Secret Norwegian talks led to the historic Israel&ndash;PLO handshake at the White House, though peace proved elusive.
Takeaway: History shows summits can end decades of hostility &mdash; or freeze disputes for generations. Whether Alaska joins the first list or the second remains the unanswered question.

World War II leaders discussing peace at a decisive summit – file image

From Yalta to Camp David — how decisive summits altered the global course of events

When Leaders Changed World History

From Yalta to Camp David — how decisive summits altered the global course of events

August 15, 2025 | 15:11 IST