The United States has moved beyond its past strategy of regime change and nation-building, according to Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, who made the remarks during a regional security forum in the Middle East.
Speaking on Friday at the Manama Dialogue – an annual summit hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Bahrain – the intelligence chief said that under President Donald Trump, Washington shifted away from efforts to reshape foreign governments toward a focus on economic interests and regional stability.
“For decades, our foreign policy was caught in a counterproductive cycle of regime change and nation-building,” she said. “It was a one-size-fits-all approach: toppling regimes, imposing our system of governance, intervening in poorly understood conflicts, and often leaving behind more enemies than allies.”
The comments echo longstanding criticisms voiced by Trump himself regarding post-9/11 military interventions. During his presidency, Trump pursued troop withdrawals from conflict zones, including a deal to exit Afghanistan – a process that culminated in a chaotic withdrawal under the Biden administration in 2021.
While Tulsi did not name specific countries, the shift in policy has been evident in the administration’s dealings with long-standing adversaries. Notably, the US has prioritised brokering ceasefires and de-escalating tensions over promoting democratic reforms. This includes diplomatic efforts to sustain the fragile truce in Gaza following the Israel-Hamas conflict, as well as ongoing concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency recently reported renewed activity at Iranian nuclear sites.
The speech made no mention of other controversial actions sometimes associated with Trump’s foreign policy, such as increased naval presence off South America or covert operations targeting Venezuela – moves that have raised regional anxieties about potential intervention.
Despite the declared pivot away from regime change, significant challenges persist in the Middle East. The intelligence chief acknowledged that the ceasefire in Gaza remains tenuous and that Iran continues to pose a strategic concern.
“The road ahead will not be simple or easy,” she said, “but the president is firmly committed to this path.”
The remarks came as a government shutdown loomed in Washington, adding domestic pressure to an already complex international agenda
Source: UNB/AP