USSoviet relations, détente, arms control treaties from "summary" of The World Was Going Our Way by Christopher Andrew
During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union engaged in a complex dance of diplomacy, marked by periods of tension and cooperation. Détente, a term used to describe the easing of strained relations between the two superpowers, was a key strategy employed by both sides in an effort to reduce the risk of nuclear war. This period of détente was characterized by a series of arms control treaties aimed at limiting the proliferation of nuclear weapons and reducing the possibility of a catastrophic conflict. One of the most significant arms control agreements to emerge from this era was the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT), which resulted in the signing of the SALT I Treaty in 1972. This treaty established limits on the number of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) that each side could possess, as well as restrictions on the deployment of anti-ballistic missile (ABM) systems. The negotiations leading up to the signing of the SALT I Treaty were a testament to the painstaking efforts of both the United States and the Soviet Union to find common ground on critical issues of nuclear disarmament. Following the success of SALT I, the two superpowers embarked on further negotiations that culminated in the signing of the SALT II Treaty in 1979. This agreement built upon the framework established by its predecessor, setting stricter limits on the number of strategic nuclear weapons that each side could possess and introducing new measures to enhance transparency and verification. Despite the promise of SALT II, the treaty faced significant challenges, including opposition from members of the United States Senate and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, which ultimately led to its demise. While the arms control treaties of the détente era represented important milestones in the ongoing effort to reduce the risk of nuclear conflict, they were also subject to the shifting winds of geopolitics and domestic politics. The fragile balance of power between the United States and the Soviet Union meant that progress in arms control negotiations was often contingent upon broader diplomatic considerations and strategic calculations. In this context, the concept of détente served as a pragmatic response to the mutual recognition of the dangers posed by the nuclear arms race, offering a glimmer of hope for a more stable and secure future.
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