U.S. Focused on Quiet Collaboration with Pacific Allies, Not ‘Tub Thumping,’ Says Colby
The Trump administration is focused on delivering military capabilities to the Indo-Pacific to strengthen deterrence, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby said Thursday during his week-long tour of the region. “Everybody knows our position on those issues,” Colby said on Thursday to reporters, referring to the need to deliver military capability to the region. “They’ve been repeated many times in private and public, so we don’t feel the need to tub thump every day. We think that what is unique and different about our approach is that it focuses on results in the military domain, not only for
Sailors assigned to the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Hawaii (SSN-776) prepare to moor at HMAS Stirling, Western Australia on Aug. 22, 2024. US Navy photo The Trump administration is focused on delivering military capabilities to the Indo-Pacific to strengthen deterrence, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby said Thursday during his week-long tour of the region.
“Everybody knows our position on those issues,” Colby said on Thursday to reporters, referring to the need to deliver military capability to the region. “They’ve been repeated many times in private and public, so we don’t feel the need to tub thump every day. We think that what is unique and different about our approach is that it focuses on results in the military domain, not only for ourselves where we think the proof is in the pudding, but also with our allies and partners.”
The administration’s approach is to collaborate with allies and partners quietly, rather than “peacocking,” Colby said during the virtual media roundtable. Colby is currently visiting Southeast Asia – including the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia – to meet with senior officials. On Monday, Colby gave a speech at the Stratbase Institute in Manila, Philippines, during which he did not mention China or the South China Sea.
From left to right, U.S. Marine Corps Maj. David Harris, the air officer of Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia, I Marine Expeditionary Force, a U.S. Air Force Airman assigned to the Air Force Special Operations Command, and a Philippine Air Force airman assigned to the 710th Special Operations Wing, observe a call for fire during a bomber live drop exercise at Crow Valley Gunnery Range, Philippines, Feb. 2, 2026. US Marine Corps photo The visit is Colby’s first to Southeast Asia. His final stop will be Friday in Cambodia being his last stop on Friday. The visit comes amid concerns that the U.S. is less focused on the Indo-Pacific region due to the war with Iran.
According to Colby, Washington’s recent decision to change the name of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command to U.S. Pacific Command is not to diminish the importance of the Indian Ocean, but is meant to reflect a refocus of priority on the Pacific.
“The change back to PACOM has multiple reasons, but I think what I would stress here is that the strategic focus of the United States military is really – and consistent with the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Strategy – is on the first island chain. The Pacific element to that is really the focus, the Western Pacific area, obviously stretching into Southeast Asia here. Again, that’s the strategic logic,” said Colby.
During the call, Colby reiterated that the trilateral AUKUS program is “full steam ahead” after he was asked if the current production rate of Virginia-class submarines will permit the sale of three submarines to Australia in the 2030s. Currently, the Virginia class submarine build rate stands at 1.2 submarines per year.
Under the Trump administration, the Defense Department conducted a five-month review of the AUKUS program that spanned several months. The review concluded in December.
“We’ve been very pleased with the progress that has been made since the conclusion of the AUKUS review, which has basically, I think, provided a roadmap for the success of the AUKUS program,” Colby said.
Sailors assigned to the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Minnesota (SSN 783) conduct mooring operations at HMAS Stirling, Western Australia, Australia, Feb. 25, 2025. U.S. Navy photo Submarine Rotational Force-West (SRF-West) is on track to see a rotational deployment of one U.K submarine and up to four U.S. nuclear-powered attack submarines at HMAS Stirling Naval Base beginning next year. The U.S. has already stood up two new commands to support SRF-West operations.
According to Colby, the U.S. will continue to hit target milestones with the expectation that Australia will do the same.
“They know what is required. We’ve been very clear in private with them, designed to give everybody a reasonable, stable and realistic set of expectations to achieve this historic ambition that will put us all in a stronger place, and we’re hopeful that that will continue,” Colby said.
In response to Colby’s statements, Australian Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy said in an interview with Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) News that Australia will need to deliver on efforts to be sovereign ready by 2030 to operate nuclear-powered submarines, such as increasing maintenance capability and training of Australian sailors and progressing the construction of a floating dry dock to receive the first Virginia-class boat.
Australia’s Defense Department announced on July 29 that it had selected Leidos Gibbs and Cox Australia to lead the preliminary design for a contingency dry dock, which will be established in Western Australia to support the future nuclear-powered submarine capability.
“In addition to supporting a strong, sovereign industrial base, a contingency dry dock capability will play a vital role in ensuring Australia can sustain and operate its future submarine fleet and work with our partners in the United States and the United Kingdom to support security and stability across the Indo-Pacific region,” reads the release.
