US ‘Digging In’ Across Indo-Pacific, Pentagon Official Says

The United States remains firmly committed to the Indo-Pacific and has no plans to withdraw from Asia, a senior Pentagon official said Monday, while urging regional allies to take greater responsibility for their own defense.

Speaking in Manila, U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby said Washington is strengthening its position in Asia to preserve a favorable balance of power and reinforce regional deterrence.

“America is definitely not disengaging from Asia,” Colby said, adding that the United States is “digging in” rather than leaving the region.

Colby’s comments come amid questions about the reliability of U.S. security commitments in Asia. He emphasized that Washington wants stronger defense partnerships in which allies contribute more to their own security instead of relying primarily on American military capabilities.

The Philippines, the United States’ oldest treaty ally in Asia, is the first destination on Colby’s Southeast Asia tour. His trip also includes stops in Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia.

According to Colby, maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific will require what he described as “deterrence by denial” along the First Island Chain. The strategically important area stretches from Japan through Taiwan and the Philippines toward Borneo.

The approach is intended to make potential military aggression difficult to carry out successfully, supported by a growing U.S. military presence and stronger capabilities among regional partners.

However, Colby stressed that the strategy cannot depend on U.S. forces alone. Washington expects allies and partners to increase defense investment and develop greater capacity to protect their sovereignty.

He argued that calls for higher defense spending should not be interpreted as a sign that the United States is abandoning its allies. Instead, the Pentagon is seeking relationships based on shared responsibility.

“We are looking for partners, not protectorates,” Colby said.

The message highlights the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy of combining a sustained American military commitment with increased defense burden-sharing among allies. Washington believes stronger regional partners will improve deterrence and help maintain the balance of power across the Indo-Pacific.