On Friday, October 31, 2025, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard addressed Middle Eastern officials at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, announcing a significant shift in American foreign policy.
According to reports from the Associated Press, The Washington Post, and UNN, Gabbard declared that the United States’ long-standing approach of "regime change or nation building" has ended under President Donald Trump. This statement was made during the annual security summit hosted by the International Institute for Security Studies.
Tulsi Gabbard, former Congresswoman from Hawaii and U.S. Army National Guard veteran, criticized previous strategies without hesitation:
"For decades, our foreign policy has been trapped in a counterproductive and endless cycle of regime change or nation building."
"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."
"The results: Trillions spent, countless lives lost and in many cases, the creation of greater security threats."
Author's summary: Tulsi Gabbard announced at the Manama Dialogue that under President Trump, the U.S. has ended its policy of regime change and nation building, marking a crucial realignment in foreign relations.