May 28, 1972

SALT I was signed in Moscow by the United States and the Soviet Union, marking a significant nuclear arms control agreement.

Moscow, Soviet Union | United States Government, Soviet Government

Watercolor painting based depiction of SALT I was signed in Moscow by the United States and the Soviet Union, marking a significant nuclear arms control agreement. (1972)

SALT I Agreement - May 28, 1972

On May 28, 1972, the United States and the Soviet Union signed the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT I) agreements in Moscow, marking a milestone in nuclear arms control. This was part of a broader effort to curb the arms race during the Cold War and establish a framework for stability between the two superpowers. The agreements were signed by U.S. President Richard Nixon and Soviet General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev.

Background

The SALT negotiations began under a period marked by intense military rivalry and an escalating arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union. The talks commenced in 1969, reflecting a mutual interest in mitigating the risks of nuclear confrontation, promoting strategic stability, and reducing the immense financial burden of maintaining and expanding nuclear arsenals.

Key Agreements

The SALT I negotiations culminated in two key components:

  1. The Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty:

    • Limited each superpower to two ABM sites, each containing no more than 100 interceptors.
    • Later amended in 1974 to reduce the number of sites to one per country.

  2. Interim Agreement on Offensive Arms:

    • Froze the number of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) at existing levels for a five-year period.
    • Did not limit the number of nuclear warheads that could be deployed on these delivery systems or address strategic bombers.

Significance

SALT I was unprecedented as the first agreement to curtail the strategic nuclear capabilities of the superpowers, setting a significant precedent for future arms control negotiations. It demonstrated a shift towards détente, a policy aimed at easing Cold War tensions through diplomacy and reciprocal agreements.

The ABM Treaty also had far-reaching implications, as it played a crucial role in maintaining the strategic balance and reducing the incentive for either side to develop destabilizing first-strike capabilities.

Aftermath and Legacy

The success of SALT I provided momentum for subsequent arms control talks and agreements, including the SALT II negotiations and the eventual START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) agreements. Despite the limitations of SALT I, which did not significantly reduce nuclear stockpiles, it laid the groundwork for more comprehensive arms control frameworks.

The treaty remained a cornerstone of U.S.-Soviet relations until the ABM Treaty was unilaterally withdrawn by the United States in 2002. Nevertheless, the principles established during SALT I continue to influence modern arms control dialogues and efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation.

Source: www.state.gov

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