Assess the extent to which the SALT agreements affected US–Soviet relations.
Level
A Level
Year Examined
2023
Topic
International history, 1945–92
👑Complete Model Essay
Assess the extent to which the SALT agreements affected US–Soviet relations.
Assess the extent to which the SALT agreements affected US–Soviet relations.
The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) represented a significant development in US-Soviet relations during the Cold War. Initiated in 1967 by President Johnson and continued by subsequent administrations, SALT aimed to regulate the escalating arms race and foster a more stable international environment. While the agreements achieved some success in limiting certain aspects of nuclear arsenals, their overall impact on US-Soviet relations was limited and subject to ongoing tensions and disagreements.
Positive Effects and Détente
The SALT agreements did yield some positive outcomes. SALT I, signed in 1972, marked the first instance where the US and USSR agreed to limit their nuclear arsenals. This agreement, alongside the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty, signaled a move towards détente, a period of eased tensions and increased cooperation between the two superpowers. This was evident in the trade agreements signed and the reciprocal visits of Nixon to Moscow and Brezhnev to Washington.
Furthermore, the negotiation and signing of SALT II in 1979, despite not being ratified, demonstrated a continued commitment to arms control and dialogue. Both nations pledged to adhere to the treaty's limitations, illustrating a degree of mutual restraint.
Limitations and Ongoing Tensions
However, the SALT agreements had significant limitations. SALT I failed to address the development of Multiple Independently Targetable Re-Entry Vehicles (MIRVs), which allowed for multiple warheads on a single missile, effectively increasing nuclear arsenals despite the limits. The issue of MIRVs became a central concern in the SALT II negotiations.
Disagreements over the number of strategic bombers and total warheads also persisted throughout the SALT process. Furthermore, events such as the 1973 Yom Kippur War, where US support for Israel nearly led to a direct confrontation with the Soviet Union, highlighted the deep-seated mistrust and ideological differences that continued to define the relationship.
Domestic political factors also played a role in undermining SALT. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, coupled with growing concerns within the US about Soviet military expansion and human rights violations, generated strong opposition to SALT II, leading to its eventual demise. The subsequent US boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics and the Soviet retaliatory boycott of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics exemplified the renewed tensions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the SALT agreements represented a significant step towards arms control and a thawing of the Cold War freeze, their impact on US-Soviet relations was ultimately limited. The agreements did succeed in fostering dialogue and imposing some restrictions on nuclear arsenals. However, they failed to address key areas of disagreement, and their implementation occurred against a backdrop of ongoing mistrust, regional conflicts, and domestic political pressures. The legacy of SALT lies in its demonstration that even during periods of intense rivalry, dialogue and negotiation were possible. However, it also served as a reminder of the deep-seated ideological and geopolitical divisions that continued to shape US-Soviet relations, ultimately leading to the demise of détente and the continuation of the Cold War.
**Bibliography**
Gaddis, John Lewis. *The Cold War: A New History*. Penguin Books, 2006.
Leffler, Melvyn P. *For the Soul of Mankind: The United States, the Soviet Union, and the Cold War*. Hill and Wang, 2007.
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Introduction
This essay will assess the extent to which the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) agreements affected US–Soviet relations. It will argue that while the SALT agreements represented a significant step towards détente and arms control, they did not fundamentally alter the underlying tensions and mistrust between the two superpowers, and were ultimately undermined by ongoing ideological differences, geopolitical rivalries, and domestic political pressures.
Positive Impacts of SALT
Détente and Arms Control
The SALT agreements, particularly SALT I, marked a significant departure from the Cold War's previous climate of confrontation. For the first time, the US and USSR agreed to limit the number of nuclear missiles in their arsenals, demonstrating a willingness to negotiate and control the arms race. This led to a period of détente, reflected in increased trade, diplomatic exchanges, and a more measured tone in rhetoric.
Cooperation and Restraint
The signing of the ABM Treaty and the interim SALT agreement in 1972 symbolized a degree of cooperation and restraint. It reflected a shared recognition of the dangers of an uncontrolled nuclear arms race and the potential for catastrophic consequences.
Limitations of SALT
Incomplete Agreements
Despite the progress made, the SALT agreements remained incomplete. Major points of contention, such as the number of strategic bombers and the total number of warheads, were left unresolved. The failure to address these issues perpetuated underlying tensions and left room for further escalation.
Continuing Rivalries
The SALT agreements did not address the broader ideological and geopolitical conflicts between the US and USSR. The 1973 Yom Kippur War and the US's growing relationship with China strained relations and demonstrated the enduring nature of these conflicts.
Domestic Opposition and Political Pressures
Domestic political pressures also undermined the SALT agreements. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 triggered a backlash in the US, leading to the rejection of SALT II. The rise of conservative opposition, fueled by concerns about Soviet internal repression and foreign policy, further contributed to the failure of SALT.
Conclusion
The SALT agreements had a significant impact on US–Soviet relations, fostering a period of détente and arms control. However, the agreements were ultimately limited by ongoing ideological differences, geopolitical rivalries, and domestic political pressures. These limitations ultimately undermined the effectiveness of SALT and contributed to the reemergence of Cold War tensions in the 1980s. While the agreements served as a vital step towards arms control, they did not fundamentally alter the underlying dynamics of the Cold War.
Extracts from Mark Schemes
Assess the extent to which the SALT agreements affected US–Soviet relations.
President Johnson initiated the SALT I talks in 1967 and met Kosygin in New Jersey. He wanted the ABM race controlled and Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara, argued that reacting to the other side’s escalation was insane and that limiting the development of both offensive and defensive strategic systems would make relations between the two countries more stable.
Richard Nixon, also believed in SALT and the formal SALT talks began in Helsinki on 17 November 1969. Nixon and Leonid Brezhnev signed the ABM Treaty and interim SALT agreement on 26 May 1972 in Moscow.
Positive Effects
Positive effects include the fact that for the first time during the Cold War, the United States and USSR had agreed to limit the number of nuclear missiles in their arsenals and had been prepared to negotiate. The two superpowers had entered the era of détente showing restraint. This was reflected in trade agreements and Nixon’s visit to Moscow in 1972 and 1974, and Brezhnev’s visit to Washington in 1973.
Negotiations for a second round of SALT had already begun in late 1972. They continued through the Nixon, Ford, and Carter administrations. At the November 1974 Vladivostok Summit, Ford and Brezhnev agreed on the basic framework of a SALT II agreement which included a 2400 limit on strategic nuclear delivery vehicles (ICBMs, SLBMs, and heavy bombers) for each side; a 1320 limit on MIRV systems; a ban on new land-based ICBM launchers; and limits on deployment of new types of strategic offensive arms.
On 17 June 1979, Carter and Brezhnev signed the SALT II Treaty in Vienna. SALT II limited both nations’ nuclear forces and placed a variety of other restrictions on deployed strategic nuclear forces. SALT II initially focused on limiting, and then ultimately reducing, the number of MIRVs. Both Washington and Moscow subsequently pledged to adhere to the SALT II’s terms even though the treaty was not ratified.
Ronald Reagan, a strong critic of SALT II during the 1980 presidential campaign, agreed to abide by SALT II until it expired in December 1985.
Negative Effects
However, areas of disagreement remained resulting in SALT II never being ratified.
SALT I was an important beginning, but it did not prevent each side from deploying Multiple Independently Targetable Re-Entry Vehicles (MIRVs) onto their ICBMs and SLBMs. They also failed to agree on the number of strategic bombers and the total number of warheads in each nation’s arsenal. US–Soviet tension continued.
Other factors continued to affect relations between the two superpowers. The 1973 Yom Kippur War drew them to the brink of confrontation and the USA’s improved relations with China aroused hostility and suspicion from the USSR.
Even after the Vladivostok agreements in 1974, the two nations could not resolve the two other outstanding issues from SALT I: the number of strategic bombers and the total number of warheads in each nation’s arsenal. Moreover, a broad coalition of Republicans and conservative Democrats became more concerned about the Soviet suppression of internal dissent, its increasingly interventionist foreign policies, and the verification process outlined in the Treaty.
On 25 December 1979, the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, and on 3 January 1980, Carter asked the Senate not to consider SALT II for its advice and consent, and it was never ratified.
The United States boycotted the 1980 Olympics in Moscow and the USSR retaliated by boycotting the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.