By Akanksha
March 05, 2026
Regime change refers to efforts to remove a country’s ruling government and replace it with new leadership, often pursued by the US through war, covert action or pressure.
Washington has used invasions, airstrikes, intelligence support, sanctions and backing for opposition groups to weaken or remove governments it considers hostile.
During World War II, US-led Allied victories removed Axis regimes in parts of Europe and North Africa, later reshaping political systems in countries such as Germany and Japan.
In 1953, the US and UK backed a coup that removed Iran’s prime minister Mohammad Mossadegh after he nationalised oil once dominated by British interests.
The coup strengthened Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who ruled Iran for 25 years. The 1979 Iranian Revolution later overthrew the monarchy and created the Islamic Republic.
In 1954, the US supported a coup against Guatemala’s president Jacobo Arbenz after land reforms affected US business interests including United Fruit.
Following the coup, Guatemala faced decades of instability and civil war from 1960 to 1996, marked by violence and widespread human rights abuses.
In 1973, Chile’s socialist president Salvador Allende was overthrown by a military coup led by Augusto Pinochet after US efforts to isolate and pressure his government.
After the 1991 Gulf War, President George H W Bush urged Iraqis to remove Saddam Hussein. Revolts followed but Iraqi forces suppressed them without US intervention.
After the 9/11 attacks, the US invaded Afghanistan in 2001, removed the Taliban government and backed a new administration with international support.
The 2003 Iraq invasion removed Saddam Hussein while NATO airstrikes in Libya in 2011 helped topple Muammar Gaddafi, leaving both countries facing instability.