SALT II

Question 1

What was SALT II?

Answer 1

• A follow-up treaty to SALT I (1972), designed to limit the production of nuclear weapons further.
• Negotiated between President Carter (USA) and Leonid Brezhnev (USSR).
• Aimed to limit:
• Long-range missiles
• Nuclear launchers
• Number of warheads both sides could have

Question 2

Key Dates?

Answer 2

Signed in Vienna: June 1979

Question 3

Why was it important?

Answer 3

• Showed both superpowers were still willing to work together and control the arms race.
• Built on the spirit of cooperation seen in SALT I, the Helsinki Accords, and Apollo–Soyuz.

Question 4

Why didn’t it go into effect?

Answer 4

In December 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.
• This outraged the USA, especially after years of détente.
• Carter withdrew SALT II from the Senate before it could be officially passed.
• Arms limitation talks stalled, and tensions rose again.