NEW DELHI: Reversing its eight-year-old decision, the US administration has gone back to the old name of ‘US Indo-Pacific Command’ by removing ‘Indo’ from the name. The Trump administration has reverted the name to just ‘US Pacific Command, which is both the oldest and the largest of the US's unified combatant commands and extends from the US West Coast to India's western border.
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The command also displayed a wrong map of India on its official website with regard to its operational territory in the Indo-Pacific region. The USPACOM website showed Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) as a part of Pakistan in its “Area of Responsibility Map” section.
It was during US President Donald Trump’s first term in office, the ‘US Pacific Command’, which operated under the old name for over 70 years, was renamed the ‘US Indo-Pacific Command’ in 2018 in recognition of the growing importance of the Indian Ocean in US strategic-thinking. Though the US has not given any exact reason for reverting to the old name, the recent strain in Indo-US ties could be the factor behind such a move.
The renaming will not change the command's area of responsibility, which stretches from the western part of India to America's Pacific coastline, the Department of War said in a statement. Its “fundamental mission and its unwavering commitment to maintaining a free and open theater alongside regional allies and partners” also remain unchanged, it said.
The US Pacific Command (USPACOM) was established by former President Harry Truman after World War II. “Restoring the legacy USPACOM designation honours the command's deep historical roots, fostering a sense of pride and collective spirit among all who serve in the Pacific,” the Department of Defence said.
USPACOM, which encompasses roughly 52% of the Earth's surface, covers nations such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Thailand and India. Led by Admiral Samuel Paparo, USPACOM has under it over 375,000 military and civilian personnel and its primary role is to secure US interests, deter aggression and manage international disputes across the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
The command provides the tactical backbone for broader geopolitical frameworks, such as the Quad, to counter regional expansion. The USPACOM, which extends from the Arctic to the Antarctic, works with its partners to promote development, enhance security, deter aggression and provide humanitarian assistance.
