The old US policy of ’regime change’ in other countries has ended: Tulsi Gabbard

For the past few decades, the United States has followed the policy of 'regime change' in other countries. However, during the second term of President Donald Trump, the US policy has changed, said the country's Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

Tulsi Gabbard made these remarks about the new US foreign policy at the annual security conference 'Manama Dialogue' held in Bahrain on Friday (October 31) local time. The dialogue was organized by the International Institute of Security Studies (IISS).

According to a report by the Associated Press, Tulsi Gabbard's remarks are a repetition of statements made during Trump's recent Middle East tour. The previous goal of the United States was to expand human rights and democracy in the Middle East. However, during Trump's second term, this has changed and emphasis is being placed on 'economic prosperity and regional stability'.

Tulsi Gabbard said Washington's past foreign policy has long held the United States back, saying, "For decades, our foreign policy has been stuck in a vicious cycle of regime change or nation-building. It has been a 'one-size-fits-all' policy of overthrowing governments, trying to impose our system on other countries, and meddling in conflicts without much knowledge, making more enemies than allies."

Tulsi Gabbard, a former Hawaii congresswoman and former member of the U.S. Army National Guard, said such policies have cost the United States trillions of dollars, killed countless people, and in many cases created greater security threats, including the rise of Islamist terrorist groups like ISIS.

Tulsi Gabbard's assessment aligns with Trump's own thinking about the war the United States launched after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. Trump's first term saw a troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, which ended in chaos under the Biden administration in 2021. He also welcomed Syria's interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa. Al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda member, was once held in a US prison in Iraq. However, Tulsi Gabbard did not comment on Trump's deployment of warships to South America, attacks on ships accused of carrying drugs, and covert operations in Venezuela.

Trump's policy in the Middle East still faces challenges. Gabbard said the ceasefire in Gaza remains "fragile." Meanwhile, Iran has recently begun new activities at its nuclear facilities. Tulsi Gabbard said the road ahead will not be easy or straightforward, but Trump is firmly committed to following this path from the start of his second term.