Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM)

The Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM) was an agreement signed in 1972 between the United States and the Soviet Union aimed at limiting missile defense systems. The treaty's goal was to prevent an arms race by ensuring both sides maintained mutual vulnerability; if one side could easily defend against missile attacks, it might lead to an escalation in offensive weapons. Essentially, the ABM Treaty sought to stabilize relations during the Cold War by discouraging defenses against nuclear weapons, emphasizing the importance of deterrence over interception. The treaty was effectively abandoned by the U.S. in 2002.