Washington Misreads Middle Power Cooperation

The article critiques US defense official Elbridge Colby's dismissal of middle power cooperation, arguing that such partnerships are not intended to replace the United States but to enhance resilience through networked cooperation. It highlights that middle powers in the Indo-Pacific, including through the Quad and other minilateral arrangements, are driven by functional convergence on issues like maritime security, supply chains, and critical minerals rather than shared identity. The piece notes that recent US emphasis on burden-sharing has reinforced these dynamics. It concludes that Washington should understand hedging as adaptation to strategic uncertainty rather than a vote of no confidence, and should expect greater strategic agency from allies it encourages to assume more responsibility.