On October 31, 2025, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard addressed Middle Eastern officials at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, announcing a historic transformation in American foreign policy. The statement, reported by the Associated Press, The Washington Post, and UNN, confirmed that the United States has formally ended its long-standing strategy of regime change and nation building under President Donald Trump.
The announcement, made at the annual security summit hosted by the International Institute for Security Studies, marks a significant recalibration of U.S. global strategy and regional engagement.
Gabbard, a former congresswoman from Hawaii and U.S. Army National Guard veteran, spoke candidly about the failures of previous approaches.
“For decades, our foreign policy has been trapped in a counterproductive and endless cycle of regime change or nation building,” she noted. “It was a one-size-fits-all approach, toppling governments, imposing our system on others, intervening in conflicts we barely understood, and leaving behind more enemies than allies.”
“The results: trillions spent, countless lives lost, and in many cases, the creation of even greater security threats.”
Her remarks signaled the administration’s broader effort to move toward pragmatic diplomacy, emphasizing sovereignty, regional stability, and mutual respect rather than interventionist policies.
Gabbard’s declaration reflects the Trump administration’s decisive move away from interventionism toward a policy grounded in restraint and strategic cooperation.
This turning point redefines America’s role abroad, ending decades of interventionist policy and promoting a new era of balanced diplomacy.