President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Ms. Tulsi Gabbard as the next Director of the Department of National Intelligence (DNI). The director of national intelligence, a position created in 2004 as a response to the 9/11 attacks, oversees the U.S. Intelligence Community which comprises 18 intelligence agencies including the CIA and NSA. An enthusiastic supporter of Trump will lead America’s 18 spy agencies.
This presidential appointment requires Senate confirmation. The Senate Intelligence Committee holds the confirmation hearings for director of national intelligence nominees. Confirmation hearings for Trump’s Cabinet nominees are expected to begin during the 119th Congress, which starts on January 3, 2025. A date for Gabbard’s hearing has not yet been announced. The Senate Intelligence Committee makes a recommendation to the senate and then a mere majority in the Senate is sufficient to confirm the appointment.
Who is Ms. Tulsi Gabbard, and what will her appointment mean for the Middle East?
A brief background
Ms. Gabbard, a Samoan American, is both a military officer and an American politician. She has served in the U.S. Army and has worked in Iraq, Kuwait, and the Horn of Africa. She is also a former Democrat congresswoman, having served as U.S. representative for Hawaii’s 2nd congressional district from 2013 to 2021. In 2022, she left the Democratic Party citing differences in foreign policy and social issues.
Post her departure from the House of Representatives and her resignation as a Democrat, Ms Gabbard’s political opinions have been conservative on issues such as abortion, LGBTQIA+ rights, and border security. Ms Gabbard is now a member of the Republican Party and has been an ardent supporter of Mr Donald Trump. Her nomination as the Director of DNI has garnered mixed reactions.
Gabbard’s views on U.S. foreign policy
Ms Gabbard has a very distinct and controversial take on foreign policy. She largely supports a non-interventionist approach, is not supportive of the U.S. interfering in the domestic politics of foreign nations and believes that no participation is the best way to protect America’s interests.
Regarding the war in Ukraine, Ms. Gabbard has a pro-Putin stand. She argues that the Biden-led U.S. pushing Ukraine towards its NATO membership was the red line that should not have been crossed, which in turn warranted a war by Russia. She criticized the administration for failing to pursue diplomatic solutions, instead escalating the conflict by providing Ukraine with long-range missiles that could potentially be used to target Russian territory.
Gabbard on Middle East
Ms Gabbard, in line with her previous support for non-interventionism, has opposed U.S. military participation in the Syrian Civil War. She criticised the Obama administration for the way terrorism and Islamic extremism in the Middle East were handled. In 2017, during Mr Trump’s first term, Ms Gabbard went on a one-week “fact-finding mission” to Syria and Lebanon. While on this trip, she met Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, a first by a U.S. lawmaker since 2007. When the opportunity to meet with Assad arose, she explained that she chose to do so out of a belief that genuine concern for the suffering of the Syrian people requires engaging with any party necessary to explore the possibility of achieving peace. She further added that the visit convinced her that the U.S. should stop aiding any rebels fighting against Assad in the war-torn country and that the rebel groups were to be labelled “terrorists.” When allegations that Assad used chemical weapons against civilians in Syria made the rounds, which were followed by a military attack against Syria by the United States, she expressed scepticism about these claims and termed the U.S. attacks reckless and short-sighted. In a 2019 interview, she expressed the view that Bashar al-Assad is not the enemy since the country does not pose any direct threat to the U.S. But it might be wrong to describe her as an Assad sympathiser; she has referred to him as a dictator, comparing him to the likes of Saddam Hussein and Gadhafi.
Ms Gabbard has been very vocal about her disdain for Biden-Harris’s approach to the Middle East. She has accused Biden of directly empowering Iran by allowing monetary inflow into the country, which she believes has been used to support groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. According to her, the groups have undermined the U.S. military, destabilized the world and brought the U.S. closer to a potential world war. Her endorsement of Trump is rooted in her deep dissatisfaction with the Biden-Harris administration. After the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, Gabbard came out strongly in support of Israel and condemned Hamas. She has called pro-Palestine protesters in the U.S. puppets of radical Islam.
By contrast, Ms. Gabbard is very appreciative of Trump’s approach. She has praised Trump’s “commitment to peace through direct diplomacy.” She has asserted that Trump would work quickly to put an end to the wars in the Middle East by brokering peace deals. The recent Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire has added to Ms. Gabbard’s faith in Trump. Ms Gabbard believes that Trump’s leadership style, which is characterized by negotiating in person, as seen in his past willingness to have discussions with North Korea and Russia, will ameliorate the ongoing conflicts and prevent a global crisis in the future.
Ms Gabbard as the Director of DNI
Critics who are apprehensive of her appointment as Director of the DNI cite a number of arguments. Firstly, they claim Ms. Gabbard, though a military veteran, does not have experience in the area of intelligence. Secondly, accusations of her being a Russian asset have not left her side and have resurfaced in recent times. There is a general absence of trust. Thirdly, since Ms Gabbard has previously aligned herself with Presidents Putin and Bashar al-Assad, critics believe that the U.S. allies may think twice before sharing intelligence, especially from the regions of the Middle East. They believe partisan politics should not be prioritised over national security.
However, it is too soon to conclude how Ms Gabbard’s appointment will position the U.S. with the conflicts in the Middle East. It is still unclear whether Trump’s nominees will be able to get through Senate confirmation, even with the chamber’s Republican majority. A few moderate Republicans have voiced reservations about Trump’s nominations, and time shall tell if Ms Gabbard will be able to lead the DNI successfully or not. She is going to be questioned about her visit to Syria and her sympathetic attitude towards President Assad previously.
Will Gabbard’s appointment change anything in the Middle East?
Ms Gabbard’s views on Syria-U.S. relations have been clear. She prefers a U.S.-first stance, and believes in a non-interference approach.
Syria and its now-deposed Syrian President Assad have a strong ally in Russia, one of the U.S.’s adversaries. The recent developments in Syria, and the Kremlin’s confirmation of granting asylum to the now-deposed Syrian President is a testament to the former closeness of Russia and Syria. The U.S. has worked against the Syrian leader for some time, though Assad and Syria are not enemies in the traditional sense, after all Syria has never declared war on the United States. However, many conclude that Assad was someone who stood against the values and interests of the U.S.
In light of the downfall of Syrian President Assad, President-elect Trump has said that Syria is a mess, but is not a friend to the U.S. and that the U.S. should not get involved. Ms Gabbard has supported this statement.
In conclusion, her nomination is a sign that Mr. Trump aims to give top foreign policy jobs to those who are deeply sceptical of the effectiveness of U.S. military intervention abroad. It underscores President-elect Trump’s pivot toward a non-interventionist foreign policy approach. While her military background and emphasis on diplomacy resonate with supporters, her controversial positions on Syria, Russia, and U.S. intervention raise significant concerns amongst some about her alignment with national security priorities and global alliances. Whether Gabbard’s leadership will redefine U.S. intelligence strategy or face insurmountable obstacles remains uncertain, contingent on Senate confirmation and her ability to address the critiques surrounding her past actions and statements.
Featured Image Credits: © Gage Skidmore https://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/48011630723
