Pentagon drops 'Indo' from Indo-Pacific Command, restores name to USPACOM after 8-year gap

The move restores the command’s original title, under which it operated for more than seven decades, while officials insist that the change does not affect its mission, structure or geographical responsibilities.

The announcement has also drawn attention in India after the command’s official website displayed a map showing Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) as part of Pakistan in its Area of Responsibility section.

Historic Pacific Command name restored

Announcing the decision, the Department of War said the return to the USPACOM designation is intended to preserve the command’s historical legacy and institutional identity.

According to the department, restoring the original title “honours the command's deep historical roots, fostering a sense of pride and collective spirit among all who serve in the Pacific”.

Officials emphasised that the renaming is symbolic and will not alter the command’s operational role or strategic responsibilities.

The department stated that the command’s area of responsibility continues to stretch from waters off the western coast of the United States to India’s western boundary and that its commitment to a “free and open theatre alongside regional allies and partners” remains unchanged.

Incorrect map draws attention

Alongside the renaming, observers noted that the command’s official website displayed an Area of Responsibility map depicting Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) as part of Pakistan.

The map appeared in a section outlining the command’s geographical jurisdiction across the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.

The depiction has attracted attention because India maintains that the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir, including areas under Pakistani control, is an integral part of the country.

Why the Command matters

Established on January 1, 1947, under President Harry S Truman, the Pacific Command became one of the oldest and largest unified combatant commands in the US military system.

Over the decades, it played a central role in major military operations and regional security initiatives, including the Korean War, the Vietnam War, humanitarian assistance missions and disaster-response operations.

Headquartered in Hawaii, the command oversees a vast strategic region covering the Pacific Ocean, large parts of the Indian Ocean, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and portions of South Asia.

Its responsibilities include defence readiness, military partnerships, maritime security, joint exercises, disaster relief operations and regional contingency planning.

Significance of 2018 ‘Indo-Pacific’ shift

The command was renamed US Indo-Pacific Command in 2018 during the administration of then-President Donald Trump.

At the time, then Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said the change reflected the growing strategic importance of the Indian Ocean and its increasing integration with security dynamics across the Pacific region.

The rebranding was widely viewed as a signal of Washington’s broader Indo-Pacific strategy and a recognition of India’s expanding role in the regional security architecture.

The command subsequently became an important platform for strengthening defence cooperation between India and the United States through military exercises, maritime coordination, information sharing and strategic engagement.

Shashi Tharoor reacts

The renaming has also generated political reactions in India.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor responded to the announcement on social media, posting: “One more nail in the coffin of the Quad?”

His remarks came as some observers questioned whether the removal of “Indo” from the command’s title could be interpreted as a change in Washington’s strategic messaging regarding the Indo-Pacific region and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad).

However, US officials have maintained that the decision is limited to nomenclature and historical continuity, stressing that the command’s structure, responsibilities and regional commitments remain unchanged.