National Security Strategy

Brief History of Arms Control Agreements

8/5/63: Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) prohibits nuclear testing in the atmosphere (US, UK, USSR); unlimited duration but allows withdrawals under extraordinary circumstances;
7/1/68: Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) restricts distribution of nuclear weapons; China, India, and France refuse to sign it; initial duration set at 25 years, allows withdrawals under extraordinary circumstances (North Korea used this clause in 3/93 to withdraw);
5/26/72: Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I) freezes for five years land-based ICBM launchers and submarine-based SLBM launchers; strategic bombers not covered, parties free to mix types and upgrade with minor limitations; expired on 10/3/77 but both sides announced they would refrain from actions incompatible with the provisions;
5/26/72: ABM Treaty prohibits deployment of anti-ballistic missile systems over whole territory; unlimited duration but allows withdrawal with 6-months notice;
11/24/74: Vladivostok Accord establishes the principle of equal ceilings on strategic nuclear delivery vehicles (used in SALT II)
6/18/79: SALT II sets initial ceiling of 2,400 launchers, to be lowered to 2,250 beginning 1/1/81; limit of 10 re-entry vehicles on ICBM (14 on SLBM); bans testing and deployment of new ICBM (one permitted); to remain in force until 12/31/85;
12/8/87: Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) eliminates intermediate and short-range missiles (these were not covered by the SALT agreements); bans flight-testing and production of these missiles and launchers;
11/19/90: Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE) reduces tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, combat aircraft to reduce the imbalance of forces in Europe; the reductions to reach the ceilings would be carried out by 25\% (no later than 16 months), then 60\% (no later than 28 months), and the remainder no later than 40 months; no state or group of states has the ability today to launch a surprise armed attack on Europe;
7/31/91: Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I) provides for deep cuts in the nuclear arsenals but, unlike the INF Treaty, does not eliminate an entire category of armaments; arsenals would be limited to 1,600 delivery vehicles, and 6,000 ``accountable'' warheads, with no more than 1,540 warheads on 154 ``heavy'' ICBMs, and no more than 1,100 warheads deployed on mobile ICMBSs; duration set at 15 years, each party has right to withdraw; USSR stated START I was viable only until compliance with ABM Treaty is full;
6/17/92: Reductions in Strategic Offensive Arms Agreement (De-MIRVing) reduces total number of warheads within 7 years of START I to 3,800-4,250 (each decides on a number within the band) with no more than 1,200 MIRVed ICBMs, to be eliminated by 2003;
1/3/93: START II codifies De-MIRVing Agreement, reduction of strategic nuclear weapons in two stages, with stage I limiting total deployed nuclear warheads to 3,800-4,250, and in stage II, these would be reduced to 3,000-3,500 (can choose the level to settle at within this numerical band), none of the retained warheads may be on MIRVed ICBMs; since this builds on START I, the duration is the same and each party can withdraw in extraordinary circumstances.