U.S. Pacific Command renamed U.S. Indo-Pacific Command

U.S. Pacific Command renamed U.S. Indo-Pacific Command

News:

1. The United States renamed its strategically important Pacific Command (PACOM) to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

Important Facts

2. Renaming the combatant command is strategically significant for US.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Thirdly, recognition within the U.S. government that East Asia and the Indian Ocean Region are gradually becoming a single competitive space.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.

12. 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.