US Military Renames "Pacific Command" to "Indo-Pacific Command"
The U.S. Department of Defense has changed the name of the Hawaii-based "Pacific Command" to "Indo-Pacific Command." This organization oversees the Asia-Pacific region, including Japan, and the U.S. Forces Japan stationed in the country are also under its command.
The primary reason for the name change is the increasing importance of the Indian Ocean. The United States views the vast region spanning from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean as a single entity and is demonstrating a stance of strengthening its strategy there. In particular, it emphasizes cooperation with India, which is growing its presence in both economic and military terms.
At a ceremony held in Hawaii, the then-Secretary of Defense explained that the change "reflects the growing connectivity between the Indian and Pacific Oceans." This is believed to reflect the United States' intention to maintain a free and open maritime environment, with an eye toward China's growing influence in the region.
Indo-Pacific Command has the largest area of responsibility among all U.S. military commands. This name change makes it clear that the focus of U.S. security policy has expanded from the traditional Asia-Pacific to a broader scope.
This move also holds significant meaning for Japan. The Japanese government has also proposed the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" concept and plans to further strengthen its cooperation with the United States. Attention will now be focused on what kind of cooperative framework will be built across this vast region in the future.