In 1972, two of the world`s superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, came together to sign one of the most important arms control agreements in history – the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT).

The SALT agreements were a result of years of negotiation between the two nations, which had been engaged in a nuclear arms race for more than two decades. The agreements were designed to limit the number of strategic nuclear weapons that each country could possess, as well as to regulate their deployment and testing.

The SALT I agreements, which were signed in Moscow on May 26, 1972, consisted of two separate treaties – the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems and the Interim Agreement on the Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms.

The first treaty placed limits on the number of anti-ballistic missile (ABM) systems that each country could deploy, with the aim of reducing the possibilities of a nuclear first strike. The second treaty, the Interim Agreement on the Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, was more significant as it put limits on the number of nuclear weapons that each country could possess.

Under the terms of the agreement, both the US and the Soviet Union were allowed to possess no more than 2000 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and strategic bombers. Additionally, the agreement also placed limits on the number of multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs) that each side could deploy.

The SALT agreements marked the first time in the history of the Cold War that both the US and the Soviet Union had committed to reducing their nuclear arsenals. It was a significant step towards arms control and peace, as both nations realized the horrors of a potential nuclear war.

The SALT agreements paved the way for further arms control negotiations between the two nations, including the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) signed in 1991, which marked a significant reduction in the number of nuclear weapons in both countries.

In conclusion, the 1972 Salt agreements were a significant milestone in the history of nuclear disarmament and peacekeeping. These agreements were crucial in limiting the number of nuclear arms that each country could possess and helped to prevent a catastrophic nuclear war between the two superpowers. It is a testament to the power of negotiation and diplomacy that these agreements were signed, and they will always be remembered as an important step towards a safer world.