According to the Nixon Doctrine, what should shape American commitments?

The Nixon Doctrine primarily emphasized that American foreign policy commitments should be shaped by the interests of the United States. This doctrine was articulated during the Vietnam War and reflected a shift in U.S. foreign policy towards a more pragmatic approach, particularly in the context of reducing direct military involvement in conflicts abroad.

Under this doctrine, the idea was that countries in crisis should be able to defend themselves, and the U.S. would support these countries primarily through economic and military aid rather than through direct military interventions. This approach aimed to realign U.S. military commitments and reduce American involvement in conflicts that did not directly pertain to U.S. national interests. By focusing on America's interests, the Nixon Doctrine sought to ensure that U.S. foreign engagements would be more selective and based on a careful assessment of national priorities rather than on moral obligations or international treaties alone.