The US Department of War has renamed its largest military command, dropping the reference to the Indian Ocean and reinstating its earlier title.
In an announcement on Tuesday, the department said the US Indo-Pacific Command would once again be known as the US Pacific Command (USPACOM). Officials clarified that the move is purely symbolic and will not alter the command’s operations, responsibilities or geographical jurisdiction.
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth welcomed the decision, describing it as a return to the command’s historic identity. “US Pacific Command…is back,” he wrote on X.
Established on January 1, 1947, under President Harry S Truman, the command operated as the US Pacific Command for more than 70 years and remains the oldest and largest unified combatant command in the US military.
The Department of War said restoring the USPACOM designation acknowledges the command’s heritage and honours its long-standing legacy.
“Restoring the legacy USPACOM designation honours the command’s deep historical roots, fostering a sense of pride and collective spirit among all who serve in the Pacific,” the department said in a statement.
The Pentagon emphasised that the renaming would not affect troop deployments, military missions or activities. The command’s area of responsibility remains unchanged, covering a vast region from the US West Coast to India’s western border.
The Indo-Pacific title was adopted in 2018 under then-Defence Secretary Jim Mattis to reflect India’s growing strategic importance and the increasing interconnection between the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
The command currently oversees around 375,000 military and civilian personnel across its area of responsibility, which includes India.
