What historic agreement did the U.S. and Soviet Union sign to prevent nuclear proliferation in 1968?

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) was a landmark agreement signed in 1968 aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy. This treaty established a framework for nations to work together toward disarmament and to avoid the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

The NPT has three main pillars: non-proliferation, disarmament, and the right to peacefully use nuclear energy. By obligating nuclear-armed states to pursue negotiations in good faith towards nuclear disarmament, and non-nuclear states to refrain from developing or acquiring nuclear weapons, the treaty aimed to create a balanced approach to nuclear security.

In contrast, the other agreements mentioned serve different purposes. The Treaty of Paris primarily ended the Vietnam War, the United Nations Charter established the framework for international diplomacy and cooperation, and the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) focused specifically on limiting the number of nuclear weapons possessed by the superpowers rather than preventing their spread. Therefore, the NPT uniquely addresses the proliferation issue through its worldwide framework and commitments.