On Friday, October 31, 2025, the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, addressed officials from across the Middle East at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, declaring a historic shift in American foreign policy. According to the Associated Press and corroborated by The Washington Post and UNN, Gabbard announced that the United States’ longstanding strategy of "regime change or nation building" had ended under President Donald Trump. This pronouncement, delivered at the annual security summit organized by the International Institute for Security Studies, echoes a broader realignment of U.S. priorities in the region.
Gabbard, a former Congresswoman from Hawaii and U.S. Army National Guard veteran, did not mince words about the past. "For decades, our foreign policy has been trapped in a counterproductive and endless cycle of regime change or nation building," she said. "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 continued, "The results: Trillions spent, countless lives lost and in many cases, the creation of greater security threats."
Her remarks at the Manama Dialogue reinforced a message President Trump himself had delivered earlier in the year during a Middle East visit. The Trump administration, now in its second term, has shifted gears from the previous American aspirations of promoting human rights and democracy to a new emphasis on economic prosperity and regional stability. This pivot is not just rhetorical; it has shaped U.S. actions in several recent flashpoints across the region.
One of the most significant developments cited by Gabbard was the U.S.-brokered ceasefire that brought a halt to the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. The conflict, which had threatened to spiral into a broader regional crisis, was stopped with American diplomatic pressure and, as reported by AP, the implicit threat of further escalation. Additionally, Gabbard pointed to the end of Israel’s 12-day war on Iran, which concluded after American bombers struck Iranian nuclear sites—a move that, while controversial, forced a rapid cessation of hostilities.
These actions mark a stark departure from the U.S. approach in the decades following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. As Gabbard noted, the earlier strategy often involved toppling regimes and attempting to rebuild nations in America’s image—efforts that consumed vast resources and, in her words, "created greater security threats." This critique closely mirrors Trump’s own reflections on the post-9/11 wars, particularly in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Indeed, Trump’s first term saw a negotiated agreement to withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan. While the actual exit occurred under President Joe Biden in 2021—and was marked by chaos and controversy—the groundwork was laid by Trump’s administration in pursuit of ending what many in Washington had come to view as an endless, unwinnable conflict.
In another striking move, the Trump administration has embraced Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a figure with a controversial past. Al-Sharaa, once a fighter for al-Qaida and held in a U.S. prison in Iraq, now leads Syria’s transitional government with American support. This pragmatic, if eyebrow-raising, partnership reflects the new U.S. focus on stability over ideology. As reported by UNN and The Washington Post, this acceptance of former adversaries illustrates the administration’s willingness to set aside old enmities in pursuit of immediate regional calm.
Not all aspects of U.S. foreign policy have been publicly discussed. Gabbard did not mention Trump’s deployment of warships off the coast of South America, the strikes on alleged drug-running boats, or the CIA’s covert operations targeting Venezuela. These actions, which have fueled speculation about possible regime change efforts in the Western Hemisphere, remain a subject of debate and concern among analysts.
Despite the new direction, challenges persist. Gabbard was candid about the fragility of the Gaza ceasefire. She also acknowledged that Iran remains a significant concern, especially after the International Atomic Energy Agency reported renewed activity at Iranian nuclear sites. "The road ahead will not be simple or easy but the president is very committed down this road," she told summit attendees, as quoted by AP and UNN. Her remarks underscored the administration’s recognition that stability in the Middle East is a complex and ongoing project.
The Manama Dialogue itself was not without controversy. An Associated Press journalist, who had been accredited and issued a visa to cover the summit, had that permission rescinded at the last minute by the Bahraini government. Officials cited a "post-approval review" but did not elaborate further. The timing raised eyebrows, as it coincided with AP’s publication of a story about Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, a long-detained Bahraini activist who had begun an open-ended hunger strike to protest his internationally criticized imprisonment.
In a development that drew international attention, al-Khawaja ended his hunger strike late Friday after receiving letters from the European Union and Denmark regarding his case, according to his daughter, Maryam al-Khawaja. The episode highlighted ongoing human rights concerns in Bahrain—even as the summit focused on broader regional security issues.
Gabbard’s speech and the U.S. policy shift have sparked debate among policymakers and observers. Some see the move away from regime change as a long-overdue correction, acknowledging the failures and unintended consequences of past interventions. Others worry that the new emphasis on stability and prosperity could mean turning a blind eye to human rights abuses or propping up authoritarian regimes for the sake of short-term calm.
The region itself remains wary. The fragile peace in Gaza and the simmering tensions with Iran serve as reminders that stability in the Middle East is never guaranteed. Meanwhile, U.S. relationships with local leaders—including controversial figures like Syria’s Ahmad al-Sharaa—reflect a willingness to pursue unconventional partnerships if they promise a break from endless conflict.
As the U.S. recalibrates its approach, the world is watching to see whether this new course can deliver the promised prosperity and peace—or whether old patterns will reassert themselves. For now, Tulsi Gabbard’s remarks in Bahrain mark a decisive moment, signaling that, at least for this administration, the era of American-led regime change is over.
