What is the primary objective of the SALT agreements during the Cold War?

The primary objective of the SALT agreements, which stands for Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, was to achieve nuclear disarmament between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. These negotiations aimed to curb the arms race that characterized the period by limiting the number of nuclear weapons each superpower could possess. The agreements marked a significant step towards controlling the proliferation of nuclear arms and mitigating the tensions that arose from the competitive buildup of nuclear arsenals.

SALT I, signed in 1972, established limits on the number of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), while SALT II, signed in 1979, sought to further reduce the number of nuclear weapons and imposed stricter guidelines on the development of new missile systems. These talks reflected a mutual acknowledgment of the dangers posed by the excessive accumulation of nuclear weapons and represented an effort by both superpowers to find a framework for coexistence in a highly polarized world.

In contrast to the focus on disarmament, other options like increasing the number of nuclear weapons or expanding military alliances do not align with the discussions and intentions behind the SALT agreements. Promoting economic cooperation was also not a primary goal of these arms