Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty

The Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM Treaty or ABMT) was a treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union on the limitation of the anti-ballistic missile (ABM) systems used in defending areas against ballistic missile-delivered nuclear weapons. Under the terms of the treaty, each party was limited to two ABM complexes, each of which was to be limited to 100 anti-ballistic missiles.

Signed in 1972, it was in force for the next 30 years.Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, in 1997 four former Soviet republics agreed with the United States to succeed the USSR’s role in the treaty. In June 2002 the United States withdrew from the treaty, leading to its termination.