Elbridge Colby and the Reordering of the Indo-Pacific
Foreign Policy
by Alejandro ReyesFebruary 23, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The 2026 National Defense Strategy represents a significant shift in U.S. defense planning, reflecting the influence of Elbridge Colby, the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy and a key architect behind the strategy. This document is not merely a response to current threats but a settled doctrine that narrows acceptable ambiguity and restructures expectations for U.S. allies, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. It identifies China as the primary pacing threat, with Russia as a secondary adversary, and highlights North Korea and Iran as regional disruptors, while also addressing instability in the Western Hemisphere. The strategy organizes U.S. defense planning around four key efforts: homeland defense, denying adversaries in the Indo-Pacific, promoting allied burden-sharing, and revitalizing industrial capabilities.
Colby’s strategic vision has evolved over time, beginning with the 2018 National Defense Strategy and solidified in his book *The Strategy of Denial*. His ideas have been further refined under the Trump administration, emphasizing nationalism, territorialism, and power politics. While the 2018 strategy laid the groundwork for prioritization, the 2026 version imposes sharper expectations and reduces the flexibility of U.S. allies, particularly in contested Indo-Pacific regions. This reflects a broader shift from multi-regional
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Originally published on Foreign Policy on 2/23/2026