Arms Control The American quest for stability and the willingness of the Soviets to bargain have led to arms control negotiations. That is not a new effort. A history of arms control agreements exists between the two superpowers stretching back to 1959. The first round of Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT), concluded in 1972, produced the Antiballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty that severely restricts the deployment of ABM systems by either country. The SALT I also produced the Interim Agreement on Strategic Offensive Arms that placed limits on the number of strategic nuclear weapons. That agreement was to remain in effect for 5 years, but both countries pledged to abide by its provisions until further negotiations were c o n c l u d e d . In 1974 both countries agreed to maintain an equal number of strategic delivery vehicles. Additionally, they agreed to sublimit the number of delivery vehicles they could equip with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) warheads. Those agreements formed the basis for the SALT II agreement in 1979. SALT II continued the agreement of equal limits but lowered the level of limitation on strategic weapons delivery systems. That new agreement forced the Soviet Union to dismantle several hundred missile launchers. In addition, the SALT II agreement placed sublimits on MIR V ballistic missiles in general and on MIR V intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in particular. A provision, which accompanies the basic treaty,    imposes restraints on the development of new and more sophisticated weapons. The United States sees arms control as an important  complement  to  the  strategy  of deterrence. We are seeking to reach an agreement with the Soviet Union on a Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). Our objective is to enhance strategic stability through equal and verifiable limitations on both sides. Despite some key differences on issues, we are confident an agreement can be reached. In negotiations the United States will continue to try to limit American-Soviet competition in strategic nuclear forces. The United States will continue to pursue the basic objectives of strategic deterrence, adequate stability, and equivalence. That process began with the SALT I agreement and has progressed through the SALT II and START. Present Posture The Soviet navy could pose the greatest potential threat to the U.S. Navy. Realistically, however, small Third World navies now pose more of an actual threat to U.S. naval forces. Since the U.S. Navy is primarily prepared to engage the Soviet navy, we will compare U.S. and Soviet maritime missions. The Soviet navy’s primary mission is to be prepared to conduct strategic nuclear strikes from SSBNs operating in protected waters close to the Soviet Union. The key to carrying out that mission is strategic defense of seaward approaches to the Soviet Union. The Soviet navy, air force, and army will try to control the Soviet Union’s peripheral seas and key land masses. The Soviets’ aim in controlling these areas is to deny Western access to areas needed to threaten Soviet SSBNs. The Soviets usually create sea denial zones up to 2,000 kilometers from the Soviet mainland. The primary targets in the sea denial zones are sea-launched cruise- missile-equipped submarines, surface ships, and aircraft carriers. Disruption of U.S. supply lines to Europe and Asia is another Soviet objective. The Soviets will attempt to interdict sea lines of communications (SLOC) and establish sea denial zones. During conflict the Soviets are expected to attack critical SLOCs that link the United States and its allies. The Soviet submarine force plays a primary role in the disruption of SLOCs. The U.S. national security strategy is based on deterrence, forward defense, and collective security. Forward-deployed U.S. and allied combat ready naval forces can provide a visible deterrent to any country bordered by an ocean or a sea. These forces operate globally in support of bilateral and multilateral commitments and project military power in support of national policy and interest. U.S. naval forces have four primary peacetime objectives: 1. 2. 3. 4. Defending the continental United States (CONUS) from attack Assuring freedom of the seas and pro- tecting important SLOCs from adversaries Providing regional stability by supporting friends and deterring aggression Functioning as a visible power projection force capable of responding to crises and low-intensity conflicts on short notice anywhere in the world 1-11