【By Guancha Observer Network, Liu Chenghui】

"America's absolute dominance era has ended." On May 23rd local time, US Vice President Vance delivered a speech at the 2025 graduation ceremony of the US Naval Academy, manipulating geopolitical confrontation.

Vance stated that the US was once an "unparalleled superpower," but now faces "serious challenges" from countries like China and Russia. He also harshly criticized the US' previous foreign policy of "state building" and "interventionism" towards other nations, instead focusing more on America's "core interests." He used the US military action against Yemeni Houthi armed forces as an example to show how the US military will avoid being drawn into long-term conflicts.

The media believes that Vance's speech highlights the new diplomatic policy direction adopted by the Trump administration. This concept, along with Trump's policy philosophy, may have a profound impact on the US' foreign policy layout for the next four years or even longer. Given its potential to reshape the Republican Party's approach to global affairs, this influence might extend beyond the current administration's term.

According to the US Department of Defense website, Vance mentioned in his speech that for a short period after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the US was an "unparalleled superpower," and US leaders believed this status was stable, "not believing any foreign country could rise to challenge the US position," but the global landscape has changed significantly.

"The era of American absolute dominance has ended. Now we face serious threats from countries like China and Russia, which are determined to defeat us in all fields, from the spectrum to near-Earth orbit, to our supply chains, and even our communication infrastructure," he said.

On May 23rd, the US Naval Academy held its graduation ceremony at the Marine Corps Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland. Vice President Vance delivered a speech. Visual China.

In addition to the trite geopolitical confrontation, Vance's shift in foreign policy direction has drawn attention.

Vance criticized the foreign policies of previous US leaders for deviating from the right path for a long time, overemphasizing external intervention and soft power. He mentioned President Trump's recent trip to three Middle Eastern countries, calling it "the end of a decades-long foreign policy path."

During his visit to the Middle East earlier this month, Trump repeatedly criticized Western interventionism. He admitted that so-called "nation builders" destroyed far more countries than they built and promised that the US would end nation-building and intervention actions, no longer "teaching people how to live."

"Our leaders did not focus their efforts on countering the rise of close competitors like China, but instead pursued tasks they believed were easy for the US as a global superpower. How difficult is it to establish a few democratic countries in the Middle East? The fact is, it is almost impossible, and the cost is exorbitant," Vance said.

"For a long time, our foreign policy has been off track, trying to maintain 'nation building' and interference in other countries' affairs through defense capabilities and alliances, even if these countries have little connection to the US core interests."

Vance told the cadets, "Now the policy is shifting, and so is the mission entrusted to the military by the state."

"President Trump is driving a policy generational shift with far-reaching impacts... We are returning to a strategy based on realism and protecting core national interests."

Vance mentioned the ceasefire agreement reached earlier between the US and the Yemeni Houthi armed forces.

"We act with clear diplomatic goals: not to involve soldiers in long-term conflicts with non-state actors, but to safeguard freedom of navigation for the US by forcing the Houthis to stop attacking our ships. That's exactly what we're doing," he said.

"Now our opponents understand: the red lines drawn by the US will be defended. When we act, we do so with clear objectives, leveraging superior force, advanced weapons, and the best talents in the world," he added.

Vance emphasized that the Trump administration is focusing on expanding the "technological advantage" between the US military and its adversaries, assuming that military operations "do not come without a price," and that the military must "fight with proper equipment."

He also mentioned the evolution of warfare, stating that "the era of American supremacy in sea, air, and space has ended," emphasizing that the US military must adapt to change.

"Innovation is increasingly happening on the battlefields you will soon lead, meaning you are not just recipients of technology or tool users, but developers of military technologies in the new century. Cheap drones, easily accessible cruise missiles, and cyberattacks pose serious threats to our military," he said.

Regarding Vance's speech, US Newsweek cited an expert in foreign policy as saying this might be the clearest articulation of "Trump's foreign policy tenets."

Javed Ali, a professor at the University of Michigan and former senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council, said Vance's remarks "mark the latest development in President Trump's strategic transformation during his second term, possibly the clearest route declaration yet."

He said: "Although the idea of linking national security to core interests is not new, including during Trump's first term, his series of measures since returning to the White House in a hundred days indicate a significant increase in the degree and speed of policy shifts."

Ali listed Trump's border policies, pressuring allies to increase military spending, potential withdrawal plans, construction of new missile defense systems, and even considering "territorial expansion" in Greenland or Panama, suggesting these together form Trump's new version of the "national security framework."

Nigel Gould-Davies, a researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said on X: "Recent signs suggest that Vice President Vance is beginning to understand the reality of war. Stay tuned."

Gerald Baker, a senior editor of The Wall Street Journal, wrote in a commentary article this week: "Defining the 'Trump Doctrine' is difficult because, like many traits of this most unique US president, his policies lack coherence in both rhetoric and practice, and frequent changes are the norm."

This article is an exclusive piece by the Guancha Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7507849384726643254/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author. Welcome to express your attitude under the [Upvote/Downvote] button below.