Pentagon official says US will deepen Indo-Pacific presence while urging allies to share defence costs
Undersecretary of Defence for Policy Elbridge Colby told a Manila audience that the United States is increasing its commitment to the Indo-Pacific but expects regional partners to shoulder more defence responsibility.
Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon's Undersecretary of Defence for Policy, addressed an audience in Manila, asserting that the United States remains fully engaged in the Indo-Pacific and is actually strengthening its presence to maintain a favourable balance of power. He warned that allies must increase their own defence investments, urging a shift from dependency to partnership. Colby described the US approach as a "posture of deterrence by denial" along the first island chain, pointing to an expanding American military commitment in the area.
The Philippines, the oldest US treaty ally in Asia, hosted the first leg of his regional trip, which will continue to Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia. His comments aim to reassure partners about US reliability while signaling expectations for shared responsibility in regional security.
Why it matters
The statement signals US intent to stay active in Asia while pushing allies to fund more of their own defence, shaping regional security dynamics.
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