The Agreement between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Prevention of Nuclear War was signed in Washington on 22 June 1973 by Richard Nixon, President of the United States, and L. I. Brezhnev, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU, in two copies, the English and Russian texts being equally authentic. It enters into force upon signature, of unlimited duration. UNTS No. 13089, volume 917. It is not SALT I, nor the Basic Principles of Relations signed in Moscow on 29 May 1972, which the preamble invokes.

Article I: an objective of their policies is to remove the danger of nuclear war and of the use of nuclear weapons; the Parties shall act so as to prevent situations capable of dangerously exacerbating their relations, to avoid military confrontations, and to exclude the outbreak of nuclear war between them and between either Party and other countries. Article II: each Party will refrain from the threat or use of force against the other Party, the allies of the other Party and other countries, in circumstances which may endanger international peace and security. A deterrence or weapons handbook is not transcribed.

Article III: relations with each other and with other countries shall be developed consistently with the purposes of the Agreement. Article IV: if relations appear to involve the risk of a nuclear conflict — between the Parties, with third countries, or between third countries affecting the Parties — they shall immediately enter into urgent consultations to avert that risk. Article V: each Party shall be free to inform the Security Council, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the governments of allied or other countries of those consultations.

Article VI: nothing affects the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence under Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, the provisions of the Charter relating to international peace and security, or obligations towards allies. Article VII: unlimited duration. Article VIII: it enters into force upon signature.

Cover: the Nixon–Brezhnev talks in Washington; we do not claim the signing table. Wikimedia Commons, free licence.

Sources consulted: Agreement on the Prevention of Nuclear War; Agreement on the prevention of nuclear war (UNTS No. 13089).