Southeast Asia Isn’t Buying Elbridge Colby’s Flexible Realism

U.S. Undersecretary of Defense Elbridge Colby just wrapped up a weeklong tour of Southeast Asia. His aim was to reassure allies and partners in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia that the United States will continue to prioritize the region. But the Trump administration’s actions continue to contradict top officials’ strategic messaging and fuel regional concerns of U.S.…