Tulsi Gabbard: U.S. Ends ‘Regime Change’ Strategy in Middle East/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ U.S. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard confirmed that America’s era of “regime change” and “nation building” is over, reflecting a strategic pivot under President Trump. Speaking at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, Gabbard emphasized a focus on stability and economic prosperity in place of past military interventions. Her remarks align with Trump’s broader foreign policy goals, though concerns in the Middle East persist.
U.S. Ends Regime Change Strategy Quick Looks
- Tulsi Gabbard says U.S. no longer seeks regime change or nation building
- Gabbard’s remarks align with President Trump’s second-term foreign policy
- Focus now on economic stability and regional ceasefires, not military interventions
- U.S. facilitated Gaza ceasefire and ended Israel-Iran conflict
- Trump previously embraced controversial leaders like Syria’s Ahmad al-Sharaa
- Gabbard criticizes past U.S. wars post-9/11 as failures
- Iran’s nuclear activity and Gaza ceasefire remain unstable issues
- AP journalist barred from Bahrain summit amid press crackdown
Deep Look
U.S. National Intelligence Director Declares End to Regime Change Era
In a significant declaration of the Trump administration’s foreign policy direction, U.S. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard announced that the long-standing American strategy of “regime change” and “nation building” in foreign nations has officially ended. Her statement, delivered Friday at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, marks a stark departure from decades of U.S. interventionism in the Middle East and other parts of the world.
Speaking at the annual security conference hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Gabbard—former Hawaii Congresswoman and Army National Guard veteran—echoed President Donald Trump’s evolving approach to foreign affairs. Her remarks reinforce earlier messages from Trump’s Middle East tour, which stressed a focus on pragmatic, stability-oriented objectives rather than ideological missions to promote democracy or human rights abroad.
“For decades, our foreign policy has been trapped in a counterproductive and endless cycle of regime change or nation building,” Gabbard told an audience of international diplomats and defense experts. “It was a one-size-fits-all approach, of toppling regimes, trying to impose our system of governance on others, intervene in conflicts that were barely understood, and walk away with more enemies than allies.”
She described the consequences of this previous U.S. policy path in stark terms: trillions of dollars wasted, numerous lives lost, and new threats created rather than diminished.
Gabbard’s remarks closely mirror Trump’s long-standing critique of American wars in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. During his first term, Trump negotiated a withdrawal agreement from Afghanistan—one that culminated in a tumultuous exit under President Joe Biden in 2021. Now, in his second term, Trump is seeking a fresh posture abroad: one that prioritizes ceasefires, regional peace, and U.S. economic leverage.
Recent policy shifts reflect this recalibration. Under Trump, U.S. forces helped secure a ceasefire to end the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. In another bold move, American bombers targeted Iranian nuclear sites, leading to the end of a 12-day war between Israel and Iran. These interventions, while still involving U.S. military might, aim for swift containment rather than long-term occupation or political restructuring.
Nonetheless, challenges remain. Gabbard acknowledged that the ceasefire in Gaza is “fragile,” and Iran’s nuclear activities continue to raise international concern. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency recently reported renewed activity at Iranian nuclear sites, suggesting potential escalation points remain in the region.
While advocating for stability abroad, the Trump administration continues to face criticism for certain actions that echo past interventionist tendencies. Gabbard notably avoided mention of Trump’s military deployments off South America, including fatal strikes on drug trafficking vessels and covert CIA operations reportedly targeting Venezuela—moves that have fueled fears of potential regime change strategies under a different label.
At home, Gabbard’s participation in the Bahrain summit comes amid a domestic government shutdown, further highlighting the administration’s focus on international matters even as budget issues remain unresolved in Washington.
In a related incident during the summit, Bahrain rescinded the visa of an Associated Press journalist who had already been accredited to cover the event. The Bahraini government claimed it was conducting a “post-approval review” but offered no clear reason. The move came the same day the AP published a story about the hunger strike of imprisoned Bahraini activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja.
Khawaja, a long-detained human rights advocate, halted his hunger strike late Friday after receiving letters from the European Union and Danish officials, according to his daughter Maryam al-Khawaja. His imprisonment continues to draw international condemnation.
Gabbard concluded her remarks by emphasizing the difficulty of the new path forward: “The road ahead will not be simple or easy, but the president is very committed down this road.”
As the Trump administration redefines its global role, the message is clear: the U.S. is no longer in the business of toppling governments. Instead, it aims to pursue influence through stability, military deterrence, and economic engagement—a foreign policy recalibration that signals the end of an era.
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