Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty

Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty
US Army, Redstone Arsenal · Public domain · source
Name	Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty
Long name	Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems
Signed	May 26, 1972
Location	Moscow, Soviet Union
Effective	October 3, 1972
Expiration	June 13, 2002
Parties	United States, Soviet Union
Language	English, Russian

Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty was a landmark agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union, signed by Richard Nixon and Leonid Brezhnev during the Moscow Summit in 1972, with the aim of limiting the development and deployment of ABM systems by both countries, thereby reducing the risk of a nuclear war and promoting détente. The treaty was negotiated by Henry Kissinger and Andrei Gromyko, and its provisions were influenced by the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) and the Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) programs of both nations, including the Minuteman and R-36 missiles. The treaty's signing was also facilitated by the Helsinki Accords and the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE), which aimed to reduce tensions between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Warsaw Pact.

Introduction

The Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty was a significant development in the Cold War, as it marked one of the first attempts by the United States and the Soviet Union to limit their nuclear arsenals and reduce the risk of a nuclear war. The treaty was influenced by the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Able Archer incident, which highlighted the dangers of nuclear proliferation and the need for arms control agreements, such as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). The treaty's provisions were also shaped by the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) and the Reagan Doctrine, which aimed to develop ballistic missile defense systems and promote democratization in Eastern Europe. Key figures involved in the treaty's negotiation and implementation included Andrei Gromyko, Henry Kissinger, and Paul Nitze, who played important roles in the SALT and START talks.

History

The Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty was the result of a long process of negotiations between the United States and the Soviet Union, which began in the late 1960s and continued throughout the 1970s, involving key figures such as Nikita Khrushchev, Leonid Brezhnev, and Gerald Ford. The treaty was influenced by the Vietnam War and the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, which highlighted the need for détente and arms control agreements, such as the Treaty of Moscow and the Treaty of Warsaw. The treaty's signing was also facilitated by the European Security Conference and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which aimed to promote stability and cooperation in Europe. The treaty's provisions were implemented and verified through the Standing Consultative Commission (SCC), which was established by the treaty and involved the participation of experts from the United States Department of State, the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Provisions

The Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty limited the development and deployment of ABM systems by both the United States and the Soviet Union, with the aim of reducing the risk of a nuclear war and promoting détente. The treaty prohibited the development, testing, and deployment of sea-based and space-based ABM systems, and limited the deployment of land-based ABM systems to two sites per country, with a maximum of 100 interceptors per site, as specified in the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems. The treaty also established a verification regime, which included on-site inspections and national technical means of verification, such as satellite surveillance and seismic monitoring, to ensure compliance with the treaty's provisions, as outlined in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Geneva Conventions. Key organizations involved in the treaty's implementation and verification included the United States Department of Defense, the Soviet Ministry of Defense, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Withdrawal

The Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty was withdrawn from by the United States in 2002, under the presidency of George W. Bush, who argued that the treaty was no longer relevant in the post-Cold War era and that it limited the development of ballistic missile defense systems, such as the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system. The withdrawal was opposed by Russia and China, which argued that it would lead to a new arms race and undermine global security, as stated by Vladimir Putin and Jiang Zemin. The withdrawal was also criticized by European Union leaders, such as Jacques Chirac and Gerhard Schröder, who argued that it would undermine European security and stability. The withdrawal was facilitated by the USA PATRIOT Act and the Homeland Security Act, which aimed to enhance national security and counter-terrorism efforts.

Impact and Legacy

The Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty had a significant impact on the Cold War and the development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missile defense systems, as acknowledged by Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev. The treaty's provisions limited the development and deployment of ABM systems and promoted détente and arms control agreements, such as the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) and the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). The treaty's legacy continues to influence international relations and global security today, with ongoing debates about the development and deployment of ballistic missile defense systems and the need for arms control agreements, as discussed by Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev. Key institutions involved in the treaty's implementation and legacy include the United Nations, the European Union, and the NATO-Russia Council, which aim to promote cooperation and stability in Europe and beyond.

Negotiations and Signing

The Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty was negotiated by Henry Kissinger and Andrei Gromyko during the Moscow Summit in 1972, with the participation of Richard Nixon and Leonid Brezhnev. The treaty's signing was facilitated by the SALT talks and the Helsinki Accords, which aimed to reduce tensions between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Warsaw Pact. The treaty's provisions were influenced by the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Able Archer incident, which highlighted the dangers of nuclear proliferation and the need for arms control agreements, as stated by John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev. Key figures involved in the treaty's negotiation and signing included Paul Nitze, Gerard Smith, and Anatoly Dobrynin, who played important roles in the SALT and START talks. The treaty's signing was also witnessed by Willy Brandt and Edward Heath, who were key leaders in European politics at the time. Category:Treaties