US Pentagon official: US is 'digging in' on Asia, seeks 'partners, not protectorates'

Published Aug 10, 04:03 PM UTC

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Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, speaking in Manila on August 10, 2026, reaffirmed the United States' commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, countering concerns about Washington's reliability. Colby stated the US is 'digging in' to maintain a favorable balance of power, emphasizing a posture of 'deterrence by denial' along the First Island Chain, which stretches from Japan to Taiwan, the Philippines, and Borneo. He called on allies to invest more in their own defense, arguing that stronger partners enhance deterrence. Colby's trip includes stops in Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia, and he stressed the US seeks 'partners, not protectorates,' signaling a shift toward greater burden-sharing rather than dependency.

Source

Military TimesWestern

Original headline: US not disengaging from Asia, seeks ‘partners, not protectorates,’ says Pentagon official

Original language: EN

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