US Says It Is “Digging In” Across Asia as Pentagon Calls for Greater Allied Defense Spending

The United States is not withdrawing from Asia and instead plans to strengthen its position across the Indo-Pacific while asking regional partners to take greater responsibility for their own defense, a senior Pentagon official said Monday.

Elbridge Colby, US Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, made the comments during a speech in Manila as he sought to reassure allies about Washington’s long-term commitment to the region.

“America is definitely not disengaging from Asia,” Colby said. “We are not leaving; in fact, we are digging in, to ensure a favorable balance of power where it matters most.”

His remarks come amid continuing questions about the reliability of the US security commitment in Asia and growing pressure on regional governments to increase defense spending.

Colby said the United States wants stronger partnerships rather than relationships in which allies depend entirely on American military forces. He argued that a stable balance of power in the Indo-Pacific requires countries in the region to strengthen their own military capabilities.

“When we ask our allies and partners to step up, to invest more in their own defense, and to take responsibility for their own sovereign security, we are not signaling abandonment,” Colby said. “We are looking for partners, not protectorates.”

The Philippines was the first stop on Colby’s Southeast Asian tour, which also includes Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia.

The Philippines is the United States’ oldest treaty ally in Asia and has expanded military cooperation with Washington in recent years. The two countries have strengthened security ties as tensions rise in the South China Sea and across the wider region.

Colby said the US strategy is focused on maintaining what he described as a favorable balance of power along the First Island Chain, a strategic area stretching from Japan through Taiwan and the Philippines to Borneo.

He called for a policy of “deterrence by denial” in the region, supported by a growing US military presence and greater contributions from allies.

The official said stronger regional militaries would make it more difficult for potential adversaries to challenge the existing security order.

“When our partners are strong, deterrence is strong,” Colby said.

His comments reflect a broader shift in US defense policy toward encouraging allies to spend more on their armed forces and contribute more personnel, equipment and infrastructure to regional security.

Washington continues to view the Indo-Pacific as a central area of strategic competition, particularly as China expands its military capabilities and seeks greater influence across the region.

Colby’s message was aimed at balancing two priorities: maintaining a strong American presence while making clear that regional allies are expected to carry a larger share of the security burden.