Homonym: SALT (Seasoning)
SALT, or Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, refers to a series of negotiations between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. These talks aimed to limit the number of nuclear weapons and delivery systems each country could possess, thereby reducing the risk of nuclear conflict. The first round of talks, known as SALT I, took place from 1969 to 1972, resulting in the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and an interim agreement on strategic offensive arms.
The second round, SALT II, occurred from 1972 to 1979, further addressing the limitations on nuclear arsenals. Although the treaty was signed, it was never ratified by the U.S. Senate due to rising tensions and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Despite this, SALT played a crucial role in establishing a framework for future arms control discussions and contributed to the eventual reduction of nuclear weapons in subsequent treaties.