There is speculation about whether US defense strategy architect Elbridge Colby will facilitate or influence a potential visit to China by Pete Hegseth.

New Delhi and Washington will discuss speeding up pending defence acquisitions and consider reviving forums like INDUS-X, people familiar with the matter said.

Elbridge Colby, US Under Secretary of War, expressed skepticism that European countries could provide nuclear deterrence to nations like Poland.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back on Monday talked with US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby on the phone to discuss the situation surrounding the Middle East following US-Israeli strikes against Iran, his office said. During the phone call, Ahn was briefed on Washington's position regarding its military operations against Iran, and the two officials shared their views on the current situation unfolding in the Middle East. "The two sides reaffirmed the steadfast South Korea-US all

A Pentagon delegation is reportedly expected to visit China within weeks, potentially setting the stage for a future trip by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, with Undersecretary Elbridge Colby possibly leading the group.

Elbridge Colby, the US Under Secretary of War for Policy, arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday. He is scheduled to engage with key senior officials in India during his visit.

A senior Pentagon official, Elbridge Colby, has indicated that the number of American troops stationed in Poland will be maintained at least at its current level, as reported by TVPWorld.

Elbridge Colby, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, was heard Tuesday by the Senate Armed Services Committee during a hearing at the Capitol in Washington.

A Venezuelan-Like Oil Blockade Against Iran Could Enable The US To Divide-And-Rule RIC Authored by Andrew Korybko, The cascading consequences of such a blockade, which might not ultimately be imposed due it entailing a high risk of war with Iran, could simultaneously weaken Russia, India, and China. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump 2.0 is considering imposing a Venezuelan-like oil blockade against Iran. It hasn’t yet done so due to concerns that Iran might attack the US’ regional military assets and/or seize its Gulf allies’ oil tankers, with either scenario destabilizing the global oil market and spiking the risk of war, so it might never ultimately happen. If the US were to successfully impose such a blockade, however, then it might be able to adroitly divide-and-rule Russia, India, and China (RIC). “The US Wants To Replicate The Venezuelan Model In Iran” by coercing Iran into subordinating itself and its energy industry to the US. The “Trump Doctrine”, which is shaped by Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby’s “Strategy of Denial”, seeks to deny strategic resources to the US’ rivals. Accordingly, it has an interest in cutting off China’s average import of 1.38 million barrels of Iranian oil per day last year, which could hit its economy hard if they’re not replaced (and that might be difficult). These exports could then be redirected to India, thus enabling India to more than replace its average import of 1 million barrels per day of Russian oil last month, with the revenue placed in an escrow account per the Venezuelan precedent for release to Iran if it cuts a nuclear and missile deal with the US. Through these means, India could zero out its import of Russian oil while raising the US’ role over its energy security exactly as Trump 2.0 wants, with the end result dealing incredible harm to RIC. Russia’s budgetary revenue from such sales would be reduced and could only realistically be replaced in part through more sales to China, though that might not be as easy as it sounds. The UK is preparing a campaign to seize Russia’s “shadow fleet” in the English Channel after being emboldened by the US’ seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker near its coast. If Russia doesn’t impose unacceptable costs on the UK, and it didn’t impose any on the US for doing this, then its Baltic Sea tankers might never reach China. Those from the Black Sea might not reach it either if the UK allies with Greece and Cyprus to cut off Russia’s “shadow fleet” from that vector too. Pipeline exports, which have limits to how much they can be scaled, would then be the only means for replacing part of Russia’s lost oil exports to India with China apart from relatively minimal tanker exports from the Far East. The resultant economic pressure on Russia and China might make them susceptible to lopsided deals with the US on Ukraine and trade. As for India, it already entered into a partially lopsided deal with the US as regards the informal quid pro quo of it agreeing to zero out its import of Russian oil in exchange for their trade deal, and the US’ growing influence over India’s energy security could curtail its hard-earned strategic autonomy. This might then be leveraged for coercing a reduction in India’s purchase of Chinese goods and services so as to place more pressure on the People’s Republic to agree to its own lopsided trade deal with the US. This worst-case scenario of the US’ dividing-and-ruling RIC can be averted by Iran deterring or breaking a US blockade on its oil in parallel with Russia doing the same with respect to any British one against its “shadow fleet”. These options require immense political will since they entail the potential cost of a hot war breaking out between Great Powers so it’s unclear whether they’ll be implemented, but likewise, so too might the US and UK ultimately back off from their possible blockades for the same reason. Tyler Durden Mon, 02/16/2026 - 20:05

Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon's top policy official, stated that Ukraine cannot rely solely on US aid for future military support, increasing pressure on European allies to assume a larger role in assisting the country.

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor announced that top defence official Elbridge Colby is scheduled to visit the country.

US Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby assured Congress that President Donald Trump's directives regarding the number of American soldiers in Poland would be strictly implemented, following a promise made to Karol Nawrocki at the White House.

Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby defends a new strategy proposal emphasizing burden sharing with U.S. allies to combat threats to Europe.