US Rebrands Indo-Pacific Command to Pacific Command
The US has reverted the name of the US Indo-Pacific Command back to the US Pacific Command, overturning a decision made eight years ago.
The US Department of Defence revealed the decision, noting that the designation recognizes the Command's rich historical foundations, created in 1947 by President Harry Truman.
The US Pacific Command spans from the West Coast of the US to the western border of India.
"Founded on January 1, 1947, by President Harry S. Truman, the command functioned under the USPACOM title for more than 70 years, recognized as the oldest and largest of the United States' unified combatant commands," stated the Department of Defence.
In 2018, the US Pacific Command was rebranded as the US Indo-Pacific Command during Donald Trump's first term as President.
"The reinstatement of the legacy USPACOM title honors the command's profound historical foundations, cultivating pride and unity among all personnel serving in the Pacific," stated the Department of Defence.
It noted that the USPACOM name embodies decades of military legacy and lasting regional alliances, from its pivotal function in shaping the post-WWII security framework to its coordination of combined troops during the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and numerous humanitarian missions.
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The extensive area of responsibility for USPACOM - stretching from the waters near the U.S. West Coast to India's western border - continues to be unchanged, the announcement noted.
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The Department of Defence stated that the command's core mission and steadfast dedication to preserving a free and open theater with regional allies and partners remain the same.
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In 2018, former Defence Secretary James Mattis stated that the name was altered to Indo-Pacific Command to acknowledge the growing connection between the Indian and Pacific oceans.
The directive extends "from Bollywood to Hollywood, and from penguins to polar bears," and plays a significant role in America's National Defence Strategy, Mattis stated in 2018.