US ‘digging in’ to Asia but wants ‘partners not dependency’: Pentagon
After publishing: 1 headline quietly rewritten, 2 descriptions edited3 changes
- The Guardian Worldseen 13 Aug, 12:40description edited
what the description said, before and after
Elbridge Colby, a US under secretary of war, says he is ‘very pleased’ with the nuclear submarine program’s progress Elbridge Colby, the third-highest-ranking official at the Pentagon and formerly an avowed Aukus sceptic , has mirrored his president’s language on the nuclear submarine deal, saying it is “full steam ahead”. Colby, a US under secretary of war, was the author of the Trump administration’s review of the Aukus deal, which would see the US sell three in-service Virginia-class...Elbridge Colby, a US under secretary of war, says he is ‘very pleased’ with the nuclear submarine program’s progress Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Elbridge Colby, the third-highest-ranking official at the Pentagon and formerly an avowed Aukus sceptic , has mirrored his president’s language on the nuclear submarine deal, saying it is “full steam ahead”. Colby, a US under secretary of war, was the author of the Trump administration’s review of the Aukus deal, which...
- Channel News Asiaseen 22 Aug, 02:51headline rewritten
Commentary: America’s reassurances about the Indo-Pacific leave room for doubtCommentary: Should Asia be concerned that Washington dropped 'Indo' from the US Indo-Pacific Command? - ABC News (Australia)seen 5 Sept, 02:00description edited
what the description said, before and after
No-one inside federal politics seems particularly interested in discussing the large orange elephant in the room and how it is materially changing every other country's views of the world.No-one inside federal politics seems interested in discussing the large orange elephant in the room and how it is materially changing every other country's views of the world.
What it is about
Who published it, and when
16 reports left out of the cascade - too little in common with the story to place
How it spread - 27 original reports
Mon, 10 August 2026
2 reports- South China Morning Post10:07first to report
The United States is not disengaging from Asia and is instead “digging in” to maintain a favourable balance of power in the Indo-Pacific, but wants its partners to shoulder more responsibility for their defence, a senior Pentagon official said on Monday. Seeking to counter concerns about Washington’s reliability, Elbridge Colby, Undersecretary of Defence for Policy, reiterated the US interest in the region as he called for greater burden-sharing and “partnership, not dependency”. “America...
- Channel News Asia15:01
Seeking to counter concerns about Washington's reliability, the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy reiterated the US' interest in the region as he called for greater burden-sharing and "partnership, not dependency".
Tue, 11 August 2026
5 reports- South China Morning Post04:00
Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby has pressed Southeast Asian nations to join a “flexible realism” strategy in the Indo-Pacific, as the United States prioritises practical defence cooperation and deterrence over ideology. Speaking at a forum in Manila on Monday, Colby said he would travel to Jakarta, Bangkok and Phnom Penh as part of his first official trip to Asia, delivering a message he called “realistic and perhaps bracing, but also reassuring”: that America’s interests were “more...
- Bloomberg Politics07:26
Thailand plans to warn the Trump administration that steep US tariffs could force it to scale back military cooperation, including the Cobra Gold exercises that anchor one of America’s oldest security alliances in Asia, according to an official familiar with the matter.
- arkansasonline.com09:00
MANILA, Philippines -- A Pentagon official on Monday asked allies in Asia to invest more in their defense and help deter aggression in the region and said the United States remains committed to do the same with "partners, not protectorates."
- thediplomat.com09:53
Undersecretary of War Elbridge Colby told an audience in Manila that U.S. interests are “more engaged than ever in the Indo-Pacific.”
- kbs.co.kr10:45
U.S. Undersecretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby says Asia remains Washington’s top priority and has warned middle-power countries not to form alliances that exclude ...
Wed, 12 August 2026
2 reports- Channel News Asia02:35
In an exclusive interview with CNA’s senior correspondent Melissa Goh, US Ambassador to ASEAN Kevin Kim reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to continued economic and security engagement in the region.
- Bloomberg Politics11:40
Thailand reaffirmed its longstanding military relationship with the US on Wednesday, saying security cooperation will remain separate from ongoing negotiations over US tariffs and will not be used as leverage in the talks.
Thu, 13 August 2026
1 report- The Guardian World08:20edited after publishing
Elbridge Colby, a US under secretary of war, says he is ‘very pleased’ with the nuclear submarine program’s progress Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Elbridge Colby, the third-highest-ranking official at the Pentagon and formerly an avowed Aukus sceptic , has mirrored his president’s language on the nuclear submarine deal, saying it is “full steam ahead”. Colby, a US under secretary of war, was the author of the Trump administration’s review of the Aukus deal, which...
Fri, 14 August 2026
2 reports- Channel News Asia09:40
The United States and Cambodia staged joint exercises for seven years before Phnom Penh scrapped them in early 2017.
- Le Monde (France)11:04
Le Cambodge, qui entretient des relations étroites avec la Chine, avait effectué avec l’armée chinoise de vastes exercices militaires conjoints en 2025.
Sat, 15 August 2026
1 report- South China Morning Post12:00
The US push to promote “burden sharing” among its allies in the Indo-Pacific has seen it focusing on increasing its military capacity while lowering the political temperature in an effort to reassure its allies. But some analysts have questioned its chances of succeeding, arguing that this deterrence strategy has intensified great power rivalry and polarisation in the region, while driving deeper bilateral cooperation between China and Russia on the one hand and Russia and North Korea on the...
Wed, 19 August 2026
3 reports- South China Morning Post04:00
Senior US defence officials have fanned out across Asia in recent weeks to reassure allies of Washington’s commitment to the region, even as the war with Iran strains American resources and President Donald Trump fuels doubts by criticising joint combat drills with South Korea. The visits by Admiral Frank Bradley and Under Secretary of Defence for Policy Elbridge Colby were intended to show that Washington was still invested in the Indo-Pacific, according to analysts. But the comments by...
- Channel News Asia22:00edited after publishing
previously
Commentary: America’s reassurances about the Indo-Pacific leave room for doubtWashington’s words and actions invite questions about whether its strategic view of the Indo-Pacific region has changed, says RSIS’ Sinderpal Singh.
- South China Morning Post22:00
Just weeks before Chinese leader Xi Jinping is due to visit the White House, tensions have flared between Washington and its allies after one of the administration’s sharpest rebukes yet. Speaking in Manila on August 10, Elbridge Colby, undersecretary of defence for policy, pressed regional partners to increase defence spending and align more closely with American priorities. He said Washington sought “partners, not protectorates” and cautioned against “the delusion of fashionable but...
Fri, 21 August 2026
2 reports- Al Jazeera English12:32
Allies worry about the US ability to deter China, even if the bulk of US forces remain in the region.
- foreignpolicy.com14:08
Trump’s policies offer the region all the downsides of traditional U.S. policy with none of the benefits.
Sun, 23 August 2026
1 report- South China Morning Post06:00
Cambodia is preparing to restart joint military exercises with the United States next year, in a move analysts described as a pragmatic reset of defence ties strained since 2017 – though not a pivot away from China. Senior officials from both countries discussed restarting the Angkor Sentinel drills last weekend, alongside expanded training and military reforms, Cambodian media reported. Washington has also signalled interest in further visits to Ream, a strategically located Cambodian naval...
Thu, 27 August 2026
2 reports- Channel News Asia12:01
"Trade dependencies are being weaponised. Multilateralism is breaking down," said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong of the global trade environment.
- South China Morning Post21:30
In arguably his most important foreign trip, Elbridge Colby, US undersecretary for defence policy, visited key Southeast Asian capitals this month. In a speech in Manila, the Pentagon policy chief extolled America’s “flexible realism”, which he said serves “the practical, concrete interests of regular Americans” and echoes Southeast Asian nations’ commitment to “pragmatism, an openness to dialogue, respect for counterparts, proud nationalism, and a focus on economic prosperity”. Amid the...
Sun, 30 August 2026
1 report- foxnews.com22:44
Morgan Murphy says U.S. neutrality on Falkland Islands sovereignty is unchanged but warns Washington may squeeze Britain on NATO defense spending.
Fri, 4 September 2026
2 reports- Bloomberg Politics03:09
Japan needs to stand firm against US pressure as its close security ally challenges international norms and laws under President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda, according to a veteran Japanese lawmaker.
- ABC News (Australia)19:00edited after publishing
No-one inside federal politics seems interested in discussing the large orange elephant in the room and how it is materially changing every other country's views of the world.
Sun, 6 September 2026
2 reports- Bloomberg Politics02:46
The US rejected a claim by Malaysia’s opposition Islamist party that Washington once sought to influence the country’s choice of political leadership, calling the allegation false.
- manilatimes.net22:00
THE Marcos administration is pushing to conclude double taxation agreement (DTA) negotiations with Oman and Singapore before the end of the year, a Finance official said.
Mon, 7 September 2026
1 report- chinamil.com.cn11:15