America's Foreign Policy Practice Exam 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

Nixon's strategy of Vietnamization involved transferring the responsibility for the fighting to South Vietnamese forces while gradually withdrawing American troops. This approach aimed to reduce U.S. involvement without appearing to abandon the South Vietnamese government, thereby ensuring a semblance of stability in the region.

Vietnamization was part of Nixon's broader goal to achieve "peace with honor," allowing the U.S. to exit the conflict while maintaining its commitment to the South Vietnamese. This strategy sought to build up the capability of the South Vietnamese military so that they could take over the combat operations.

The other options do not reflect Nixon’s actual approach. Immediate evacuation would not allow time to adequately prepare the South Vietnamese forces, full military intervention would escalate the conflict further without addressing the issues at hand, and covert operations would not provide a sustainable solution or a clear exit strategy for U.S. involvement.