US rejects claims of Indo-Pacific retreat, says aid is being recalibrated to counter China

Senior US officials on Monday pushed back against suggestions of American retreat from the Indo-Pacific, declaring that Washington is recalibrating its foreign assistance to more effectively outcompete China in the strategically vital region while maintaining support for allies through targeted aid and security cooperation. The focus, they said, is shifting away from broad assistance towards targeted partnerships that serve US interests and advance a free and open Indo-Pacific, ranging from critical infrastructure to maritime security, critical minerals and military financing aimed at bolstering regional resilience and countering adversarial influence. Allison Hooker, US under secretary of state for political affairs, described…