Elbridge Colby, a top policy adviser and undersecretary of defense, urged allies across Asia on Monday to increase their financial commitment to national defense. Speaking at a forum in the Philippines, Colby underscored the necessity of these nations helping to deter aggression in the region, while simultaneously clarifying that the United States remains deeply committed to its Indo-Pacific partners.
The trip marks Colby’s first visit to Southeast Asia, with upcoming stops scheduled in Thailand, Indonesia, and Cambodia. During his address to an audience of diplomats, military leaders, and business executives, he directly countered concerns that the U.S. might be pivoting away from the region due to its ongoing involvement in the Middle East and the war in Iran. Instead, he asserted that American vital national interests require an enduring presence in Asia. According to Colby, the U.S. is not disengaging; rather, it is digging in to ensure a favorable balance of power.
Colby reaffirmed a commitment previously voiced by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during the May Shangri-La defense conference in Singapore. The goal, he stated, is to sustain a robust defense architecture in the Western Pacific that makes aggression infeasible, escalation unattractive, and war appear irrational. He emphasized that this security framework cannot rely solely on the United States, calling for a network of sovereign, capable nations to modernize their own forces.
By encouraging allies to step up their investments, Colby clarified that the U.S. is not seeking to abandon its responsibilities, but rather to transform relationships into true partnerships of equals. He framed the strategy as seeking partners rather than protectorates. He specifically praised the Philippines, the oldest U.S. treaty ally in Asia, for its efforts to strengthen defense capabilities through annual large-scale combat exercises, while also acknowledging similar initiatives in Thailand and Indonesia.
The discussion comes amidst long-standing regional tensions. Washington has frequently warned of its obligation to defend the Philippines if its forces, ships, or aircraft face armed attack, particularly in the South China Sea. This waterway remains a point of contention for China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. Although Beijing claims nearly the entire sea and has rejected a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated those claims, Colby steered clear of traditional rhetoric regarding China's specific actions, focusing instead on the broader necessity of collective security.
