U.S. to Comply With SALT, Dismantle 2 Subs, Reagan Says
President Reagan today ordered two Poseidon submarines dismantled to remain in technical compliance with the 1979 SALT II treaty but warned the Soviet Union that the United States may exceed the pact’s limits on nuclear weapons later this year.
Reagan announced the 20-year-old submarines Nathan Hale and Nathanael Greene will be dismantled to offset the introduction of the Nevada, the latest Trident submarine, into the U.S. arsenal this week.
The continued compliance with unratified SALT II treaty could be only temporary, however. Citing a record of Soviet non-compliance, Reagan left the door open to a decision to surpass the SALT II limits as the United States continues to modernize its strategic arsenal.
Today’s announcement followed a report by a high official source in April that Reagan had decided to dismantle the two subs.
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