’Another nail in the coffin?’ Tharoor questions US move on Indo-Pacific Command

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Jun 17, 2026: Shortly after the U.S. announced that its Indo-Pacific Command will restore its name to the Pacific Command (USPACOM) – dropping ‘INDO’ – Congress MP Shashi Tharoor viewed the decision as a message on Washington’s approach towards its Indo-Pacific strategy and the role of the Quad, consisting of India, Australia, Japan, and the United States.

“One more nail in the coffin of the Quad?" wrote Tharoor, a Lok Sabha MP from Thiruvananthapuram, as he re-shared a post on the latest announcement by the U.S. Department of War.

In a move towards “restoring its legacy", the U.S. Department of War announced Wednesday that it will be dropping ‘INDO’ from the name of its oldest and largest unified command – the US Pacific Command.

This is in fact a restoration of its earlier name. “The command’s fundamental mission and its unwavering commitment to maintaining a free and open theatre alongside regional allies and partner are unchanged", the announcement read.

Shifting Stance On Indo-Pacific?

However, the move has sparked concerns in India, with observers suggesting the change signals a shift in Washington’s approach towards the Quad and its Indo-Pacific strategy.

The decision to drop ‘INDO’ from the name marks a significant change introduced in 2018 – during President Donald Trump’s first term in office. At the time, the U.S. administration had said the decision was defined by the growing strategic importance of the Indian Ocean region.

Headquartered in Hawaii, the command has been entrusted with the responsibility to oversee strategic zones around the Pacific Ocean, much of the Indian Ocean, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and parts of South Asia.

Why It Matters To India

Originally established on January 1, 1947, by the 33rd U.S. President Harry S. Truman, the command operated for over 70 years with the name – USPACOM.

In 2018, the U.S. has announced its decision to change the name to Indo-Pacific command, acknowledging the increasing connectivity between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Spanning from the U.S. West Coast to India’s western border, the command emerged as an important strategic channel for India to enhance cooperation with Washington.

The command has encouraged increased India-US military engagement through joint exercises, maritime coordination, information sharing as part of a broader Indo-Pacific framework and cooperation with New Delhi.