MANILA — U.S. Undersecretary of Defense Elbridge Colby urged Asian allies to increase their defense investments and help deter regional aggression during remarks at a forum in the Philippines on August 10, 2026. Colby reaffirmed the United States' commitment to the region, emphasizing that Washington seeks partnerships rather than protectorates.

The Philippines served as the first stop for Colby during his trip to Southeast Asia, with planned visits to Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia to follow. During his address, Colby renewed assurances that the U.S. is not backing away from Asia despite its preoccupation with the Iran war and the Middle East. "America is definitely not disengaging from Asia — to the contrary. Our vital national interests dictate our enduring presence here," Colby said.

Colby stated that the United States remains committed to working with "partners, not protectorates." He argued that allies must contribute more to their own security to ensure stability. "We are not leaving; in fact, we are digging in, to ensure a favorable balance of power where it matters most," he added. "We see Asia as of paramount importance." Colby did not criticize China's actions in the region during his remarks.

Washington has repeatedly warned that it is obligated to defend the Philippines if Filipino forces, ships, or aircraft come under armed attack, including in the South China Sea. This assurance comes during rising tensions, as Washington has often expressed alarm over Beijing’s actions against Philippine coast guard and naval forces in recent years. In 2025, the Philippines and the U.S. signed a new agreement allowing for increased joint military exercises and the rotation of U.S. forces on Philippine soil, marking a significant step in bilateral defense cooperation.

The call for increased spending contrasts with current allocation levels. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the Philippines spent 1.3% of its GDP on defense in 2025, below the 3.5% target proposed by U.S. officials like Colby for Asian allies to contribute more to regional security. The South China Sea has been a flashpoint for territorial disputes involving China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan, with the U.S. regularly conducting freedom of navigation operations to challenge China’s claims. In 2016, an international tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines in a case against China’s maritime claims, but China rejected the ruling.

Elbridge Colby has served as the under secretary of defense for policy since April 9, 2025, bringing a history of strategic focus on China to his current role. He previously served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia and the Pacific under the Trump administration, where he was a key architect of the 2017 National Security Strategy that emphasized a more confrontational approach toward China. Colby also played a key role in the development of the 2018 U.S. National Defense Strategy, which shifted the U.S. Defense Department's focus to China.

In 2023, Colby co-authored a report titled 'The U.S. Military's Role in the Indo-Pacific,' which argued that the United States must shift from a strategy of containment to one of 'strategic patience' in response to China's growing influence, emphasizing the need for allies to take greater responsibility for their own defense. Southeast Asia has historically been a region of strategic competition between major powers, with the U.S. and China both vying for influence since the Cold War. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has often acted as a balancing force, though its unity has been tested by divergent interests among member states.

Why It Matters

The U.S. demand for higher allied defense spending shifts the regional security model from American protection to shared burden, requiring partners to invest more despite current levels falling short of proposed targets. By reaffirming commitment to the Philippines while visiting multiple Southeast Asian nations, Washington signals that its strategic focus remains on Asia even as resources are diverted to the Middle East. This approach seeks to alter the balance of power by making local allies primary contributors to their own deterrence against aggression.