The full form of SALT, in a political context, is Strategic Arms Limitation Talks/Treaty.
This acronym refers to a series of bilateral conferences and corresponding international treaties involving the United States and the Soviet Union—the superpowers of the Cold War—on the issue of arms control. These talks aimed to restrain the arms race in strategic (nuclear) weapons. There were two rounds of talks and agreements:
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SALT I (1969-1972): This resulted in the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and an interim agreement limiting strategic offensive arms. The US realized the Soviet Union was attempting to match US ICBM capabilities, prompting these negotiations.
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SALT II (1972-1979): This further attempted to limit strategic offensive arms, but it was never ratified by the United States Senate, although both countries observed its terms for several years.
Therefore, depending on the specific context, SALT can stand for either Strategic Arms Limitation Talks when referring to the negotiation process itself, or Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty when referring to the actual agreements reached.
