U.S. Assistant Defense Secretary: America Won't Exit Asia, But Allies Must Share Defense Burden

U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development Elbridge Colby reiterated America's commitment at a forum in the Philippines, stating that despite being preoccupied with the Iran situation and Middle Eastern affairs, the United States will never withdraw from Asia. He also called on regional allies to strengthen their own defense capabilities.

Elbridge Colby, U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development, began his Southeast Asia tour in the Philippines, followed by visits to Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia.

"America will never disengage from Asia—on the contrary. Our vital interests compel us to maintain a long-term presence here," Colby told an audience in Manila, which included foreign diplomats, military generals, corporate executives, and journalists.

"We are not leaving; in fact, we are deepening our engagement to ensure favorable power balances in the most critical areas," said the senior Pentagon policy advisor. "We regard Asia as our top priority."

He stated that maintaining a favorable power balance in the Indo-Pacific region requires adopting a "deterrence-by-denial posture along the First Island Chain," adding that the U.S. is increasing its military investment in the region.

Colby reaffirmed the commitment made by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in May—that the United States will establish and sustain a strong defensive force in the Western Pacific "to ensure aggression is unfeasible, escalation is unprofitable, and war is seen as irrational."

Colby emphasized that the U.S. is committed to ensuring "we can maintain combat-ready military forces in the most critical regions." However, he stressed that this defense architecture "cannot be sustained by the United States alone. It must be jointly maintained by a network of capable, sovereign nations that modernize their own militaries and stand up to defend their own territories—transforming our relationships into truly equal partnerships."

He further explained: "When we ask our allies and partners to take on more responsibility, increase their defense spending, and assume accountability for their own sovereignty and security, we are not sending a signal of abandonment. We seek partners—not protectorates."

Colby praised the Philippines, the host nation of the conference, for its efforts to enhance its defense capabilities—the country conducts large-scale joint military exercises with the U.S. annually—and cited similar initiatives taken by Thailand, Indonesia, and other security partners across Southeast Asia.

Source: DW

Original: toutiao.com/article/1873269081962499/

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