US urges Asian allies to boost defense spending, vows enduring presence

A senior Pentagon official has called on Asian allies to increase their defense investments, framing the request as a move toward genuine partnership rather than abandonment. Elbridge Colby, the US undersecretary of defense for policy, made the remarks on Monday at a forum in Manila, the first stop of his Southeast Asia tour, which will also take him to Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia.

Colby sought to reassure regional partners that the United States remains deeply engaged in Asia, despite ongoing commitments in the Middle East. "America is definitely not disengaging from Asia — to the contrary," he said, adding that vital national interests dictate an enduring US presence. He described the region as of "paramount importance" and stressed Washington's intent to maintain a favorable balance of power.

While Colby did not directly criticize China's actions in the South China Sea, his remarks come amid heightened tensions in the disputed waterway. Washington has previously voiced alarm over Beijing's confrontations with Philippine vessels and has reiterated its treaty obligation to defend the Philippines, its oldest ally in Asia, in the event of an armed attack.

Colby echoed a pledge made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in May, vowing to sustain a defense posture in the Western Pacific that makes aggression "infeasible" and war "irrational." However, he emphasized that this architecture cannot rest on American shoulders alone. "We are looking for partners, not protectorates," he said, urging allies to modernize their forces and take responsibility for their own security.

The official praised the Philippines for its annual large-scale combat exercises with US forces and acknowledged similar defense-strengthening efforts by Thailand, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asian partners.