The United States (US) is stepping up defense cooperation with key Southeast Asian partners, pursuing a pragmatic approach aimed at strengthening their ability to defend their own sovereignty while maintaining a stable regional balance of power.
Addressing journalists during a virtual press briefing on Thursday, August 13th, 2026, the Under Secretary of War for Policy, Elbridge A. Colby said the United States was making significant progress with the Philippines on Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites and expected further advances.
“We’re proud to say that over the last 18 months plus, we’ve made a lot of progress,” Colby said, describing the Philippines as a “model ally” that is taking a proactive and productive approach to cooperation.
Colby, who is visiting the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia this week, said discussions with Indonesian leaders had created new opportunities for a mutually respectful partnership. He stressed that the United States was not asking countries to choose sides, but instead sought to help them strengthen their ability to protect their own security and territorial integrity.
“We’re looking for strong countries that are capable of defending their own sovereignty. We’re not looking to undermine or compromise Indonesia’s sovereignty; we’re looking to strengthen it,” Colby added.
The Under Secretary also welcomed deeper cooperation with Malaysia on maritime security, including in the Strait of Malacca, and confirmed plans to expand the defense partnership with Cambodia, including the resumption of joint military exercises.
On the broader regional strategy, Colby said the focus was on delivering tangible military capabilities rather than relying on rhetoric. He described the administration’s approach as “peace through strength,” combining stronger deterrence with active diplomacy, and said AUKUS (a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) remains “full steam ahead.”
Colby dismissed the idea of middle-power strategies aimed at excluding the United States, arguing that countries are better served by practical partnerships centered on results and shared interests. He said such cooperation can help maintain a stable balance of power while supporting continued economic growth across the region.
