What policy substantially reduced the chances of a devastating nuclear war during the late 1960s and early 1970s?

The policy that substantially reduced the chances of a devastating nuclear war during the late 1960s and early 1970s was the establishment of arms control agreements, particularly the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1968 and the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) that began in 1969. These treaties aimed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and limit the number of strategic arms held by the superpowers, fostering dialogue and reducing tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. By promoting cooperation and transparency, these policies helped to mitigate the risk of direct military confrontation and nuclear escalation.