US not disengaging from Asia, seeks 'partners, not protectorates', says Pentagon official
Seeking to counter concerns about Washington's reliability, the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy 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 expressed that the United States is not disengaging 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 allies to take greater responsibility for their defense.
Speaking in Manila, Colby reiterated the US' commitment to the region, stating that they are not leaving and are actively "digging in" to ensure the desired power balance.
The Philippines, the US's oldest treaty ally in Asia, hosted Colby's first stop on a Southeast Asian tour, which will also take him to Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia. Colby highlighted the importance of a "posture of deterrence by denial" along the First Island Chain, an area stretching from Japan to Taiwan, the Philippines, and Borneo.
He stressed that the US military commitment in the region cannot rely solely on American forces, urging allies to invest more in their security. Colby emphasized that when allies and partners increase their investment in defense and take responsibility for their own security, the US' deterrence becomes stronger, rather than a sign of abandonment.
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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