US not disengaging from Asia, seeks ‘partners, not protectorates’, says Pentagon official
Undersecretary of defense for policy Elbridge Colby reiterated the US interest in the region as he called for greater burden-sharing and 'partnership, not dependency'.
Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby stated that the United States is not withdrawing from Asia, but rather strengthening its presence to maintain a favorable balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region. Colby emphasized that the US seeks partners, not protectorates, and called for greater burden-sharing and partnership in defense responsibilities.
He reiterated the US's commitment to the region, stating that America is not disengaging from Asia, in fact, it is digging in to ensure a favorable balance of power. The Philippines, the US's oldest treaty ally in Asia, was the first stop of a Southeast Asian trip that also included Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia. Colby outlined a strategy of deterrence by denial along the First Island Chain, which stretches from Japan to Taiwan, the Philippines, and Borneo.
He stressed that such a strategy cannot rest solely on American forces, and that allies should invest more in their security.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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