SALT Full Form
What is the full form of SALT?
The full form of SALT is Strategic Arms Limitations Talk. (SALT) is a set of arms limitations talks in which negotiations between the United States and the Soviet Union took place. These were aimed at curtailing the manufacture of strategic missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
The strategic arms limitations talk was organised to seize any chance at peace and save countries from the threat of nuclear war." If we don’t succeed, we will face destruction not only in our nation but also in the entire world." motto of this treaty.
The course of man is a complex one, and it’s hard for us to know what is going on; however, it can truly be said that if nuclear war were to break out, it would be a catastrophe for all mankind.
Brief History of SALT
The idea of the nuclear fission bomb is simple, it is explosive with a great amount of destructive power and force that can decimate everything in its path. One mistake by anyone will lead to the death of millions due to radiation poisoning, nuclear winter, and radiation fallout. The rise of its production was an alarm to mankind. Making the SALT Treaty one of the best approaches by the US & the USSR to stabilise the relationship between the US and the Soviet Union.
- What is the full form of SALT?
- Brief History of SALT
- Salt Treaty I
- Salt Treaty II
- Conclusion
SALT I and SALT II became the first agreements to be signed in 1972 and 1979 respectively, by United States president Richard Nixon (1969-74) who was President Lyndon Johnson's successor, and Soviet General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev. Salt II treaty was signed between President Jimmy Carter (1977-81) and Leonid Brezhnev. It was a bilateral agreement involving only two groups with the main purpose of reducing the number of nuclear missiles that are manufactured or used by them.
Salt Treaty I
The Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems was signed on May 26, 1972. It was one of the first treaties that applied to the US and the USSR, and established a division between those states that were allowed to possess anti-ballistic missiles (ABM), and those not allowed to.
Limitations proposed by salt I
SALT I limited the number of strategic ballistic missile launchers and the number of missile deployment sites.
Submarine-launched ballistic missiles and Intercontinental ballistic missiles were to be dismantled.
Land-based ICBMs that were in the range from the northeastern border of the Continental United States to the northwestern border of the continental Soviet Union were also limited and ordered not to be increased.
656 SLBM-capable submarine launchers and 1,054 ICBM silos were limited to the United States. If the United States or NATO increased the number, in response the Soviets could also increase their arsenal by the same amount.
The treaty also created a joint commission called BMDO, which oversees arms control policies relating to ABMs.
In October 1977, Strategic Arms Limitations Talk I was getting expired, and was not very effective in stopping both countries from limiting their nuclear force. As a result, both countries wanted a more effective way to control the situation.
Salt Treaty II
In November 1974, at Vladivostok, President Gerald Ford (successor of President Lyndon Johnson) and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev met to discuss Strategic Arms Limitations Talk II
It was more focused on limiting and gradually reducing the number of MIRVs.
Limitations proposed by salt II
Strategic nuclear delivery vehicles like ICBMs, SLBMs, and heavy bombers were limited to 2400 for each side. New land-based ICBM launchers were also banded.
Multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle systems were limited to 1320
Any new kind of strategic offensive arms was also limited by production.
Even after addressing the problem, the two countries were not able to conclude, and the treaty was delayed till President Ford was taken over by President Carter. Finally, on June 18, 1979, General Secretary Brezhnev and President Carter signed the treaty, but the SALT Treaty II was removed from the act by President Carter itself, due to the rising tension between the US and Soviet Union after the USSR invasion of Afghanistan.
The Treaty rules were still followed until its expiration in 1985.
Conclusion
The SALT Treaty was a step taken to silence the growing competition of nuclear weapons between the US and the USSR. It was first initiated by President Lyndon Johnson. However, SALT II is considered a failure, SALT I did help in slowing down the race of nuclear weapons which are deemed for mass destruction. The SALT negotiations were later restarted with the name of START I and START II and further treaties.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The SALT Treaty was signed among the US and the USSR.
Unfortunately, SALT II could never enter into force as President Carter withdrew the treaty in January 1980. It remained signed, but un-ratified.
The Treaty did not include:
Multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle missiles
Development of new weapons
The reason for the failure of SALT Treaty II was the Attack of Russia on Afghanistan.
If there is a nuclear strike in the United States, the energy from the explosions will emit high levels of dust and smoke into our atmosphere. The dust and smoke will float around the Earth for up to five years before it falls back down to Earth. This will block about 90% of sunlight from reaching our planet’s surface, causing temperatures to become colder than ever, with an average temperature drop of 20 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius). The darkness we live in for five years will cause a global famine that could kill billions worldwide.