Why was it important that the u. s. switched from brinkmanship to détente during the cold war? question 1 options: it was the policy that immediately brought about an alliance between the soviet union and the united states it gave china power to influence policy decisions in the united states when dealing with the soviet union it allowed presidents to take a more flexible approach to dealing with communism and the soviet union by looking for realistic outcomes it strengthened u. s. military presence in eastern europe.