The backdrop to these encounters was Exercise Salaknib 2026, a massive military demonstration that brought together more than 7,000 troops over nearly three months. With the United States consumed by conflict in the Middle East, and the Trump administration simultaneously pursuing delicate bilateral trade negotiations with China, American bandwidth is stretched thin. The failure of both military exercises and regional diplomacy leaves Washington relying on an outdated playbook. The central issue for American foreign policy is no longer how many troops to send to the Pacific. Washington needs a strategy that backs regional diplomacy with institutional pressure to replace pure military theater.