[ '45-'49 | '50-'59 | '60-'69 | '70-'79 | '80-'89 | '90-'99 | '00- ] [ 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 ] 1970

	Summary The United States and the Soviet Union, having reached nuclear parity, seek to impose limitations on their respective nuclear arsenals. In 1970, the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty comes into force. This is followed in 1972 by an interim agreement on strategic arms limitations (SALT 1) and on anti-ballistic missile systems (the ABM Treaty), both signed during President Nixon's visit to Moscow in May. On 21 November, SALT II negotiations, intended to work out more detailed means of limiting offensive strategic weapons, open in Geneva.
5 Mar	Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty signed on 1 July 1968 comes into force.
20 Mar	First NATO communications satellite launched from Cape Kennedy. Additional information: High resolution photos of the launch of the first NATO communications satellite
16 Apr	Opening in Vienna of US-USSR negotiations on strategic arms limitations (SALT).
11 June	The Defence Planning Committee in Ministerial session discusses the continuing expansion of the Soviet presence in the Mediterranean and welcomes the activation of the naval on-call force for the Mediterranean. Additional information: NATO Ministerial Communiqués: Final Communiqué of the Defence Planning Committee
2-4 Dec	At Ministerial meetings of the Council and Defence Planning Committee (DPC) in Brussels the United States announces that it will not reduce US forces in Europe except in the context of reciprocal East-West action. The DPC adopts the study on Alliance Defence in the `70s. Ten European countries adopt a special European Defence Improvement Programme. Additional information: NATO Ministerial Communiqués: Final Communiqué of the North Atlantic Council High resolution photos of the Ministerial meetings of the Council and Defence Planning Committee