Why was SALT II never ratified by the U.S. Senate?

The SALT II treaty was never ratified by the U.S. Senate due to a combination of domestic skepticism and deteriorating international relations during the Cold War.

While the treaty was intended to restrain the arms race by limiting strategic nuclear launchers, it faced significant opposition in the Senate on its own merits. Critics argued that the treaty’s provisions were insufficient to prevent the Soviet Union’s superior long-range missile forces from threatening the survival of U.S. land-based missiles. Furthermore, there was widespread concern regarding whether the Soviet Union’s compliance with the agreement could be adequately monitored.12

The final blow to the ratification process occurred in January 1980, following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. President Jimmy Carter withdrew the treaty from Senate consideration in response to the invasion, which he characterized as a clear threat to peace. This event effectively ended the era of détente and signaled a shift toward more confrontational superpower relations.12