PEARL HARBOR: The US military on Wednesday renamed its Pacific Command the US Indo-Pacific Command, in a largely symbolic transfer underscoring the rising significance of India to the Pentagon, US officers mentioned.
US Pacific Command, which is accountable for all US military process in the larger Pacific area, has about 375,000 civilian and armed forces staff assigned to its area of duty, which includes India.
"Relationships with our Pacific and Indian Ocean allies and partners have proven critical to maintaining regional stability," US protection secretary Jim Mattis mentioned in ready remarks.
"In recognition of the increasing connectivity between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, today we rename the US Pacific Command to US Indo-Pacific Command," Mattis mentioned.
He used to be talking right through a change of command rite. Admiral Philip Davidson used to be assuming management of the command from Admiral Harry Harris, who is President Donald Trump's nominee to be ambassador to South Korea.
The renaming does not mean additional property can be despatched to the area right now, however quite recognizes India's expanding military relevance for the United States.
In 2016, the United States and India signed an settlement governing using each different's land, air and naval bases for restore and resupply, a step toward construction protection ties as they search to counter the rising maritime assertiveness of China.
The United States is also prepared to tap into India's large protection market. It has emerged as India's No. 2 weapons provider, final $15 billion worth of deals over the last decade.
Mattis has been pushing for a waiver for international locations like India, after Trump signed a legislation last yr which mentioned that any country buying and selling with Russia's protection and intelligence sectors would face sanctions.
"I think India and the relationship with the United States is the potentially most historic opportunity we have in the 21st-century and I intend to pursue that quite rigorously," Davidson, the incoming head of the command, mentioned last month.
However, experts mentioned the title alternate would mean little until it used to be tied to a broader technique.
"Renaming PACOM is ultimately a symbolic act ... (it) will have a very limited impact unless the US follows through with a significant array of initiatives and investments that reflect a wider aperture," mentioned Abraham Denmark, a former deputy assistant secretary of protection for East Asia below President Barack Obama.
US Pacific Command, which is accountable for all US military process in the larger Pacific area, has about 375,000 civilian and armed forces staff assigned to its area of duty, which includes India.
"Relationships with our Pacific and Indian Ocean allies and partners have proven critical to maintaining regional stability," US protection secretary Jim Mattis mentioned in ready remarks.
"In recognition of the increasing connectivity between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, today we rename the US Pacific Command to US Indo-Pacific Command," Mattis mentioned.
He used to be talking right through a change of command rite. Admiral Philip Davidson used to be assuming management of the command from Admiral Harry Harris, who is President Donald Trump's nominee to be ambassador to South Korea.
The renaming does not mean additional property can be despatched to the area right now, however quite recognizes India's expanding military relevance for the United States.
In 2016, the United States and India signed an settlement governing using each different's land, air and naval bases for restore and resupply, a step toward construction protection ties as they search to counter the rising maritime assertiveness of China.
The United States is also prepared to tap into India's large protection market. It has emerged as India's No. 2 weapons provider, final $15 billion worth of deals over the last decade.
Mattis has been pushing for a waiver for international locations like India, after Trump signed a legislation last yr which mentioned that any country buying and selling with Russia's protection and intelligence sectors would face sanctions.
"I think India and the relationship with the United States is the potentially most historic opportunity we have in the 21st-century and I intend to pursue that quite rigorously," Davidson, the incoming head of the command, mentioned last month.
However, experts mentioned the title alternate would mean little until it used to be tied to a broader technique.
"Renaming PACOM is ultimately a symbolic act ... (it) will have a very limited impact unless the US follows through with a significant array of initiatives and investments that reflect a wider aperture," mentioned Abraham Denmark, a former deputy assistant secretary of protection for East Asia below President Barack Obama.
In symbolic nod to India, US changes name of Pacific Command
Reviewed by Kailash
on
May 31, 2018
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