What Colby gets wrong about middle-power autonomy

Recent criticism has targeted Elbridge Colby, a former U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy and force development. Colby's work has been influential in shaping recent American defense strategies, particularly concerning the role of allies and partners. His perspective often emphasizes U.S. leadership and the need for allies to align closely with American objectives.

However, the article contends that Colby's approach underestimates the capacity for "middle powers", nations that are neither superpowers nor minor states, to exercise independent foreign policy and strategic decision-making. It suggests that these countries possess significant autonomy and can pursue their own interests, even when they diverge from those of larger powers like the United States.

The critique implies that a rigid focus on U.S.-centric strategy might fail to account for the complex geopolitical maneuvering and independent agency of many nations. This perspective challenges the notion that middle powers are merely passive recipients of great power influence, advocating instead for a recognition of their strategic autonomy and their ability to shape regional and global dynamics.