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Détente and SALT 1 - Coggle Diagram
Détente and SALT 1
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SALT 1
This was probably the most important agreement during the period of détente. It was signed in May 1972
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The treaty set out agreements in three areas: Anti-Ballistic Missiles were only allowed at 2 sites and each site could have a maximum of 100 missiles; there were restrictions on the number of ICBMs and SLBMs each country could have, the USSR was allowed more ICBMs because the US had more strategic bombers; rules were laid down for the conduct of nuclear warfare and to set out steps for avoiding a nuclear war.
What was détente?
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During the Cold War there was an arms race with both countries developing very destructive missiles which showed that the result of war would be Mutually Assured Destruction. This meant that neither country wanted to risk a war which would lead to their own destruction. Then the height of the Cold War with the Cuban Missile Crisis showed them that it was very easy to lose control of events which could lead to war. This meant that during the 1970s there was a genuine attempt to have a better relationship between the US and the USSR, this policy was called détente.
Weaknesses of SALT 1
It was unrealistic to think that if nuclear war looked likely that a piece of paper would stop it, as each country still had more than enough nuclear weapons to destroy the world.
The treaty didn't cover the latest technology, MIRVs (multiple independently targeted re-entry vehicles) which carried multiple nuclear warheads on a single missile.
Positives of SALT 1
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It had major symbolic importance - Both countries wanted to demonstrate their better relations publicly.
Evaluation of SALT 1
SALT 1 was a symbolic agreement and demonstrated to the public that they were attempting to have better relations, but it wasn't very effective as there were lots of weaknesses which stopped it having much effect.