U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Warns Against Exclusive Middle-Power Alliances
Elbridge Colby, the U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, has issued a strong caution against the formation of exclusive 'middle-power alliances' that aim to exclude the United States. Speaking in Manila on August 10, Colby urged regional partners to increase their defense spending and align more closely with American priorities. He emphasized that Washington seeks 'partners, not protectorates,' and dismissed the concept of middle-power alliances as a 'delusion' based on a 'faulty understanding' of international relations. Colby reiterated his stance, previously expressed in mid-July and in a New York Times interview, that such strategies risk allies 'wasting valuable time, money and political capital on a distraction.' He also underscored that access to the U.S. defense industrial base is 'a privilege, not a right.' These remarks have intensified discussions among U.S. allies regarding how to navigate their dependence on Washington during the Trump administration without shifting towards Beijing. 
