The SALT Talks
· Strategic Arms Limitations Talks began in 1969, between US and USSR.
Talks began in 1969, between US and USSR
By 1972 the first SALT treaty (SALT I)agreed that both countries would limit their number of ICBMs
SALT II, 1979, intended to accomplish nuclear parity
SALT II got interrupted by the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
1980 Ronald Reagan became President and ended detente
· By 1972 the first SALT treaty agreed that both countries would limit their number of ICBMS (SALT I)
· SALT II in 1979 intended to accomplish nuclear parity (despite the two countries having built more nuclear weapons after SALT I than before).
· SALT II was interrupted by the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
· In 1980 Ronald Reagan became president and ratcheted the tensions right up again, with the somewhat antiquated goal of destroying communism.
Talks began in 1969, between US and USSR
By 1972 the first SALT treaty (SALT I)agreed that both countries would limit their number of ICBMs
SALT II, 1979, intended to accomplish nuclear parity
SALT II got interrupted by the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
1980 Ronald Reagan became President and ended detente
· By 1972 the first SALT treaty agreed that both countries would limit their number of ICBMS (SALT I)
· SALT II in 1979 intended to accomplish nuclear parity (despite the two countries having built more nuclear weapons after SALT I than before).
· SALT II was interrupted by the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
· In 1980 Ronald Reagan became president and ratcheted the tensions right up again, with the somewhat antiquated goal of destroying communism.
Wikipedia
"SALT II is a solid treaty. Ensuring compliance with its terms will not be a matter of trust. We have highly sophisticated, national technical means carefully focused on the Soviet Union to ensure that the treaty is verifiable.
This treaty is the most important step ever taken to control strategic nuclear arms. It permits us to strengthen our defense and to preserve the strategic balance at lower risk and lower cost. During the past few years, we have made real increases in our defense expenditures to fulfill the goals of our 5-year defense plan. With SALT II, we can concentrate these increases in areas where our interests are most threatened and where direct military challenge is most likely. The rejection of SALT would seriously compromise our Nation's peace and security." -President Jimmy Carter |
Subjunctive Question: What if the SALT talks never happened? Because Reagan was not a supporter of detente gestures, and because the talks were known for being generally inconsequential, what did it matter that they took place at all?
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