Colby’s 4-Nation Southeast Asia Pitch Falters as Trump Tariffs and Iran War Undercut U.S. Credibility
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Aug 14
Colby’s 4-Nation Southeast Asia Pitch Falters as Trump Tariffs and Iran War Undercut U.S. Credibility
1 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Aug 14
Summary
Elbridge Colby’s weeklong swing through Manila, Jakarta, Bangkok and Phnom Penh failed to win over Southeast Asian partners despite his call for a “true partnership” and a favorable regional balance of power.
Trump’s trade measures and the Iran war have hit regional economies and stirred doubts about U.S. defense commitments, while Colby also tied warmer ties to higher local defense spending.
A Pew survey released last month underscored the problem: citizens in four ASEAN members — Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia — said they strongly preferred China to the U.S.
Colby’s message drew added scrutiny because he avoided mentioning China, Taiwan and Beijing’s South China Sea pressure on the Philippines, omissions former U.S. and regional officials said local audiences would notice.
The muted reception highlights a broader credibility gap for Washington in Southeast Asia as the Trump administration asks allies to align more closely while pursuing unilateral tariffs and an expanding Middle East conflict.