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U.S. Pacific Command renamed U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
News:
- The United States renamed its strategically important Pacific Command (PACOM) to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
Important Facts
- Renaming the combatant command is strategically significant for US.
- Firstly it reflects US keenness to count India as a key partner in its strategic planning. It is India’s re-entry into the US government’s “Asia” orbit.
- Secondly, renaming reflects the existing geographic coverage of the command and the acknowledgment of the increasing connectedness between the two oceans – Indian and Pacific Ocean.
- Thirdly, recognition within the U.S. government that East Asia and the Indian Ocean Region are gradually becoming a single competitive space.
- Fourthly, it reflects US willingness to invest in Indo-Pacific stability and bolstering the free and open rules-based international order that has enabled this region to grow.
- Fifthly, it helps to counter China’s one belt one road initiative. China continues to improve both the size and the capability of its armed forces in hopes to supplant the U.S.
- Sixthly, it is also viewed as shrewd marketing. It is a way of reaffirming India and rest of the world that India is, and ought to be, an indispensable part of Asian order for US.
- Although, the U.S. and India have different ideas of what constitutes the Indo-Pacific. India includes the whole Indian Ocean region. It covers The United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) and United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) cover as well.
- However, the effectiveness of an Indo-Pacific defence and security strategy and U.S.-India cooperation would still depend on the level of discussion and coordination across combatant commands and bureaus.
- The first two-plus-two ministerial dialogue between India and the U.S is scheduled for July first week.
- Two plus Two’ is the term used for the institutionalisation of a dialogue mechanism between two countries consisting of the key ministries of defence & external affairs.
- India recently got waiver from anti-Russian sanctions mandated by the U.S Congress. Waiver for India is important as it has significant defence cooperation with Russia.
