Final answer:
SALT I was pivotal in freezing the number of nuclear missiles in both the US and the USSR, marking a period of détente. It served as a significant step towards arms control during the Cold War and laid the foundation for future disarmament efforts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The significance of the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I) completed by President Nixon with the Soviet Union in 1972 lies in the groundbreaking agreement to freeze the number of nuclear missiles each nation could possess.
At the Moscow Summit, this treaty marked the beginning of détente, a relaxation of Cold War tensions, and set the stage for further cooperation with agreements on trade and commitments to future joint efforts like space missions.
Despite later challenges, such as the invasion of Afghanistan that derailed SALT II, SALT I exemplified a shift towards arms control and the reduction of nuclear arsenals.
In addition to its direct implications for nuclear disarmament, SALT I laid the groundwork for future agreements and continued efforts in arms reduction, even if SALT II was never ratified.
The treaty included limitations on the deployment of antiballistic missile systems and capped the total number of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) that could be maintained by each superpower.
Furthermore, the protocol signed in 1974 reduced the number of permitted antiballistic missile sites to one per country, further emphasizing the move towards minimizing the threat of nuclear conflict.