The ABM Treaty, or Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, was a 1972 agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union. Its primary goal was to limit the development and deployment of missile defense systems, thereby reducing the risk of nuclear conflict. By restricting these systems, the treaty aimed to maintain the principle of mutually assured destruction, which served as a deterrent against nuclear war. The ABM Treaty allowed each country to have only a limited number of missile defense sites, promoting strategic stability. However, the treaty faced challenges over the years, particularly with advancements in missile technology and changing geopolitical dynamics, leading to its eventual suspension by the United States in 2002.