Trump administration official dismisses ‘middle powers’ strategy as distraction
US Defense Secretary Elbridge Colby, a senior official in the Trump administration, used a series of posts on X to reject the notion that a coordinated strategy among middle powers is viable, calling the discussion a distraction from real security concerns.
Rejecting the idea of limiting US arms sales
Colby wrote that the claim the American defense industry will lose out in the global arms market because of alleged US frustrations is “neither feasible nor correct,” emphasizing that the Department of War does not consider a serious loss of business likely.
Access to US defense industry is a privilege, not a right
He added that access to the US defense sector is “a privilege, not a right,” and urged allies not to abandon investment in their own defense industrial bases, stressing that greater spending benefits both the United States and partner nations.
Middle powers lack coherent direction, says analyst
In his commentary, Colby argued that a collective middle powers strategy rests on a flawed understanding of international relations, describing the group as having no unified basis for direction.
Flexible realist perspective
He described the United States as a “flexible realist” actor, viewing the international scene through the lenses of interests, geography, economics, and military power, suggesting that middle powers lack a clear strategic framework.
Canadian Prime Minister highlights middle powers role
Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada has repeatedly referenced middle powers in speeches at the World Economic Forum, arguing that these nations must cooperate to ensure they are not marginalized by volatile superpowers.
Carney’s call for collective action
Speaking in Davos, Carney warned that “if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu,” stressing that middle powers need to work together to advance their interests, while acknowledging that major powers can act alone for now because of their size and influence.
Additional remarks on middle powers
Earlier in the year, Carney noted that “middle powers have more power than many realize,” a view echoed by Canada’s UN ambassador David Lametti, who said Carney’s speech was already shaping diplomatic initiatives beyond the United Nations.
