SALT Treaties

The SALT Treaties, or Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, were agreements between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War aimed at curbing the arms race, particularly in nuclear weapons. The first treaty, SALT I (1972), established limits on ballistic missile launchers and laid the groundwork for future arms control discussions. SALT II (1979) sought to further reduce the number of nuclear weapons and was signed, though not ratified, due to rising tensions. These treaties were significant in promoting dialogue and managing the nuclear competition between the two superpowers.