The spelling of the word "Salt II" is pronounced as /sɔlt tu/. It consists of two parts: the word "salt" and the Roman numeral "II," indicating the second Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union. The word "salt" is pronounced as /sɔlt/ and refers to the chemical compound of sodium chloride, commonly used in cooking and preserving food. The Treaty was signed in 1979 to limit the development and deployment of strategic nuclear weapons by both countries.
Salt II refers to the second Strategic Arms Limitation Talks agreement that was signed in 1979 between the United States and the Soviet Union. This treaty aimed to limit the arms race between the two superpowers and reduce the risk of nuclear war. The negotiations began in 1972 as an extension of the original SALT I agreement, which had been signed in 1972, and were aimed at addressing the shortcomings and limitations of the previous treaty.
The Salt II treaty focused on reducing the number of strategic arms, particularly intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs). It set specific limits on the number of these nuclear missiles each country could possess. The agreement also established a framework for the verification and monitoring of compliance by both sides.
However, despite the signing of the Salt II treaty, it was never ratified by the United States Senate due to various political factors. It faced strong opposition and criticism by many lawmakers who argued that it did not adequately address concerns regarding Soviet nuclear capabilities and that the United States would be at a disadvantage.
Although the treaty was not officially implemented, both the United States and the Soviet Union declared that they would abide by its provisions until it could be ratified or superseded by a new agreement. Ultimately, Salt II laid the foundation for later arms control negotiations between the two countries and contributed to the gradual reduction of nuclear weapons during the Cold War.