US not disengaging from Asia, seeks 'partners, not protectorates': Pentagon official

Published Aug 10, 04:03 PM UTC

In a speech in Manila on August 10, 2026, Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby reaffirmed the United States' commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, stating that the US is 'digging in' to maintain a favorable balance of power, not disengaging. He emphasized a strategy of 'deterrence by denial' along the First Island Chain, which stretches from Japan to Borneo. Colby called on allies and partners to invest more in their own defense and take greater responsibility for their security, framing this as a shift toward 'partners, not protectorates.' He argued that strong partners enhance deterrence. The trip includes stops in Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia, and aims to counter concerns about Washington's reliability as a security partner in Asia.