US renames Indo-Pacific Command back to Pacific Command, signaling shift towards India
The US military has renamed its Indo-Pacific Command back to Pacific Command, a move that analysts say indicates Washington is moving away from treating India as a regional proxy and towards a more pluralistic approach in South Asia.
The United States military last month renamed its Indo-Pacific Command back to Pacific Command. The Pentagon stated that it was a return to history, with the jurisdiction remaining unchanged. The original renaming in 2018 under the Trump administration was seen as a deliberate gesture to India, with then-Defense Secretary James Mattis noting that it acknowledged the growing interlink between the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
The recent change has sparked debate. Indian MP Shashi Tharoor commented on X that it was "one more nail in the coffin of the Quad," referring to the partnership between the US, Australia, India, and Japan.
According to an opinion piece published by Al Jazeera, the renaming symbolizes the end of an era where India was America's presumed subcontractor for South Asia. The author argues that Washington is now directly engaging Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal, rather than through India. The US is said to be fostering a pluralistic regional balance and preventing any single power, including India, from dominating South Asia.
The article points to specific examples: Pakistan has shifted its relationship with the US, positioning itself as a strategic link between Gulf capital, American technology, and Pacific economies seeking critical minerals. Bangladesh, with 170 million people and a strategic location on the Bay of Bengal, is becoming a more attractive partner due to its manufacturing prowess and proximity to vital maritime routes.
The opinion piece concludes that the US still values India's market, navy, and talent, but the relationship is becoming more pragmatic and transactional. South Asia is turning into a "buzzing bazaar" where capitals cut issue-by-issue deals, and lasting influence belongs to those who juggle the most relationships at once.
