How successful was the Nixon Doctrine in advancing his foreign policy objectives?

The Nixon Doctrine was presented to the American public on 25^th July, 1969 by the then President Richard Nixon.  The doctrine had two important components to it – one pertaining to relationship with allies and the other regarding achieving world peace.  Nixon stated in his address to the nation that the traditional allies of the United States should defend themselves without the latter’s military involvement.  He also set an agenda for achieving world peace through a process of diplomacy.  Later in the year Nixon’s explicated his doctrine thus:

“First, the United States will keep all of its treaty commitments.  Second, we shall provide a shield if a nuclear power threatens the freedom of a nation allied with us or of a nation whose survival we consider vital to our security.  Third, in cases involving other types of aggression, we shall furnish military and economic assistance when requested in accordance with our treaty commitments. But we shall look to the nation directly threatened to assume the primary responsibility of providing the manpower for its defense.”

This three point doctrine first saw its implementation during the crisis in Iran.  Saudi Arabia, a long time ally of the U.S. benefited as a result of this change in American foreign policy.  In the final analysis, the doctrine met with only partial success owing to the fact that American military and diplomatic assistance across the world (particularly in the middle-east) proved to aggravate the crisis in some cases.