The Salt II Arms Control Agreement: A Comprehensive Look at Its History and Significance
The Salt II Arms Control Agreement, also known as the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks II Agreement, was a treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union. The objective behind the treaty was to limit strategic arms of the two nations and avoid an arms race that could lead to a catastrophic war. The Salt II agreement is considered to be one of the most important arms control agreements of the 20th century.
The negotiations for the Salt II Agreement began in the early 1970s between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. However, it was not until 1979 that the treaty was finally signed in Vienna, Austria, by Presidents Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev.
The Salt II Agreement aimed to achieve three main objectives. The first objective was to limit the number of nuclear missiles of both countries. The second objective was to limit the deployment of new nuclear weapon systems. The third objective was to promote transparency in the arms development of both countries.
According to the Salt II Agreement, both the U.S. and the Soviet Union agreed to limit their strategic nuclear missile launchers to 2,250 each. The treaty also limited the maximum number of Multiple Independently Targeted Re-entry Vehicles (MIRVs) to 1,320 for the U.S. and 1,700 for the Soviet Union. MIRVs are missiles that can carry multiple warheads that can be separately aimed at different targets.
Furthermore, the Salt II Agreement required both the U.S. and the Soviet Union to exchange information on their nuclear arsenals twice a year. The information exchanged included the number of missiles, bombers, and nuclear warheads possessed by each country.
The Salt II Agreement had significant implications for the disarmament process between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. The treaty was seen as a significant step towards reducing the arms race and ensuring peace and stability in the world.
However, the treaty faced significant criticism from U.S. politicians and policymakers. Critics argued that the Salt II Treaty did not go far enough in limiting nuclear weapons. Furthermore, some argued that the treaty would put the U.S. at a strategic disadvantage by limiting its nuclear capabilities.
Despite the criticism, the Salt II Treaty was ratified by the U.S. Senate in 1985. However, the Soviet Union did not ratify the treaty due to tensions with the U.S. over the deployment of intermediate-range missiles in Europe.
In conclusion, the Salt II Arms Control Agreement was an instrumental treaty in limiting the arms race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. The treaty helped to reduce tensions between the two superpowers and promote transparency in arms development. While the treaty faced criticism, it was a significant step towards disarmament and ensuring global security.