Key facts and dates

The Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I) marked a pivotal moment in Cold War détente, symbolising a shift towards dialogue and arms control between the United States and the Soviet Union. The Moscow Summit in May 1972, alongside the treaty's signing, highlighted a new phase in superpower relations amidst ongoing global tensions.

Timeline of key events:

• February 1972 – Nixon's historic visit to China, setting the stage for improved superpower diplomacy.
• May 1972 – Nixon becomes the first US president to visit Moscow since the Cold War began, signing SALT I.
• May 26, 1972 – SALT I agreements, including the ABM Treaty and Interim Agreement, are finalised.
• 1972 onwards – SALT I establishes a framework for future arms control talks like SALT II and START.

The political context of the Moscow Summit in 1972

In May 1972, President Richard Nixon made history by becoming the first American president to visit Moscow since the start of the Cold War. This landmark event, known as the Moscow Summit, occurred during a period of heightened global tension, notably with the ongoing Vietnam War, and just weeks after Nixon's groundbreaking visit to China. The summit was a key element of détente, a policy aimed at easing hostilities between the US and the Soviet Union through dialogue and cooperation.

Factors driving the Moscow Summit:

• Détente as a strategy - Nixon pursued détente to manage Cold War competition more safely, reducing the risk of direct military confrontation while maintaining rivalry through other means.
• Vietnam War pressures - With the Vietnam War draining US resources and public support, Nixon sought Soviet cooperation to pressure North Vietnam into peace negotiations, hoping to secure a resolution.
• Domestic political gains - The summit offered Nixon a chance to bolster his image as a global statesman ahead of the 1972 US presidential election, demonstrating leadership in foreign policy.
• Superpower diplomacy - Following the China visit, the Moscow Summit signalled a broader US strategy to engage with both communist powers, balancing relations to prevent either from gaining undue influence.

Key components of the SALT I treaty

The centrepiece of the Moscow Summit was the signing of the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I), the first major agreement between the US and USSR to limit nuclear weapons. SALT I comprised two main components designed to curb the arms race and stabilise superpower relations by addressing both defensive and offensive capabilities.

Major elements of SALT I:

• Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty - This agreement restricted each side to only two defensive missile systems, recognising that extensive defences could destabilise nuclear deterrence. The logic was that robust defences might encourage a first strike by reducing the fear of retaliation, undermining the principle of Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) - the idea that neither side would attack due to the certainty of devastating counterattacks.
• Interim Agreement on Offensive Arms - This temporary five-year accord froze the number of offensive strategic missiles at existing levels, preventing further escalation. The USSR was permitted 1,618 Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) and 950 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs), while the US was allowed 1,054 ICBMs and 710 SLBMs. Although the Soviets had a numerical advantage, this was offset by American technological superiority, including the use of Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles (MIRV), which allowed a single missile to carry multiple warheads aimed at different targets.

Significance of SALT I in the context of détente

SALT I was a landmark achievement in Cold War diplomacy, representing a mutual acknowledgement of the dangers of unchecked nuclear proliferation. It symbolised the core principles of détente by prioritising stability over confrontation and laid the groundwork for future negotiations.

Why SALT I mattered:

• First strategic arms limitation - It was the first treaty to place limits on nuclear weapons, marking a historic shift from arms buildup to arms control.
• Acceptance of mutual vulnerability - By limiting defensive systems through the ABM Treaty, both sides embraced MAD as a basis for stability, agreeing that neither could fully protect itself from nuclear attack, thus deterring aggression.
• Framework for future talks - SALT I established a process for ongoing dialogue, paving the way for later agreements such as SALT II, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, and the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START).
• Symbol of détente - The treaty demonstrated that cooperation and arms control were possible even amid deep ideological divisions, reinforcing the idea that dialogue could reduce global tensions.

Limitations and criticisms of the SALT I treaty

Despite its significance, SALT I was not without flaws. Critics on both sides highlighted its shortcomings, arguing that it failed to address the root causes of the arms race and left room for continued competition.

Key limitations of SALT I:

• No reduction in weapons - The treaty merely froze missile numbers at existing levels rather than cutting them, meaning both sides retained massive arsenals capable of global destruction.
• Technological competition unchecked - SALT I did not limit qualitative improvements, allowing advancements like MIRV technology to make existing missiles more deadly by increasing the number of warheads each could carry.
• Exclusion of other systems - The agreement did not cover strategic bombers or other nuclear delivery systems, leaving significant gaps in arms control.
• Criticism from US conservatives - Many American critics, particularly conservatives, argued that the treaty favoured the USSR due to their numerical advantage in missiles, claiming it compromised US security.
• Continued arms race - Although it limited numbers, the arms race persisted through technological innovations and the development of new weapons systems not covered by the treaty.

Why arms control was easier than disarmament:

• Mutual distrust - Both superpowers were reluctant to reduce their arsenals due to fears of losing strategic advantage or vulnerability to attack, making limitation a more feasible first step than outright disarmament.
• Verification challenges - Ensuring compliance with reductions was far more complex than monitoring existing levels, as it required intrusive inspections neither side fully trusted.
• Political constraints - Domestic pressures in both countries, especially from military and political hawks, made significant cuts politically unfeasible compared to agreeing on caps that maintained the status quo.

The broader impact on arms control and Cold War relations

SALT I's influence extended beyond its immediate terms, shaping the trajectory of superpower interactions throughout the later Cold War. It represented a cautious but critical step towards managing nuclear risks while highlighting the persistent challenges of achieving deeper peace.

Long-term effects of SALT I:

• Foundation for arms control - The treaty initiated a sustained process of negotiations, with subsequent agreements building on its framework to address broader categories of weapons and eventually actual reductions.
• Stabilisation of relations - By establishing regular dialogue and mutual commitments, SALT I reduced the immediate risk of nuclear escalation, even as Cold War rivalries continued in other arenas like proxy wars and ideological competition.
• Mixed legacy in détente - While SALT I strengthened détente in the short term, its inability to halt the arms race or resolve underlying tensions meant that superpower competition persisted, with détente facing challenges in the late 1970s due to events like the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
• Lesson in cooperation - The treaty proved that even adversaries could find common ground on existential issues like nuclear survival, offering a model for future diplomatic efforts despite its imperfections.