Question
15. What were the SALT II talks designed to do?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The SALT II talks, which took place in the 1970s, were designed to establish a framework for controlling and limiting the strategic nuclear arsenals of the United States and the Soviet Union. The term "SALT" stands for Strategic Arms Limitation Talks. These negotiations aimed to build upon the progress made by the first set of SALT talks, which resulted in the SALT I agreements in 1972.
SALT II sought to address the increasing arms race between the two superpowers by setting limits on the number of nuclear weapons and delivery systems each could maintain. The key goals of the SALT II negotiations included:
1. **Limiting Nuclear Weapons**: Establishing caps on the total number of strategic nuclear weapons, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and heavy bombers.
2. **Preventing Arms Races**: Reducing the incentive for both sides to engage in an arms race by creating a framework for mutual verification and compliance.
3. **Promotion of Stability**: Enhancing global security and stability by reducing the likelihood of nuclear conflict between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
4. **Building Diplomatic Relations**: Improving the overall relationship between the two superpowers during a period of heightened Cold War tensions.
The SALT II treaty was signed by U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Soviet General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev in 1979. However, it faced challenges in ratification in the U.S. Senate, particularly following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan later that same year, which led to the treaty being effectively unimplemented.
SALT II sought to address the increasing arms race between the two superpowers by setting limits on the number of nuclear weapons and delivery systems each could maintain. The key goals of the SALT II negotiations included:
1. **Limiting Nuclear Weapons**: Establishing caps on the total number of strategic nuclear weapons, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and heavy bombers.
2. **Preventing Arms Races**: Reducing the incentive for both sides to engage in an arms race by creating a framework for mutual verification and compliance.
3. **Promotion of Stability**: Enhancing global security and stability by reducing the likelihood of nuclear conflict between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
4. **Building Diplomatic Relations**: Improving the overall relationship between the two superpowers during a period of heightened Cold War tensions.
The SALT II treaty was signed by U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Soviet General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev in 1979. However, it faced challenges in ratification in the U.S. Senate, particularly following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan later that same year, which led to the treaty being effectively unimplemented.