WASHINGTON: The United States is quietly moving away from a South Asia strategy centred on India, according to an Al Jazeera analysis, which argues that Washington’s decision to rename its Indo-Pacific Command back to Pacific Command reflects a wider geopolitical shift.
The Pentagon has said the renaming is only a return to history and that the command’s jurisdiction remains unchanged. However, strategic names are never merely symbolic, as they reflect diplomatic priorities, military posture and future policy direction.
The term “Indo” was added in 2018 during President Donald Trump’s first administration as a clear signal to New Delhi that India was being recognised as a key democratic counterweight to China.
Its removal has drawn attention in India, with Indian MP Shashi Tharoor questioning whether it represented “one more nail in the coffin of the Quad”.
Washington is no longer treating India as its presumed regional subcontractor. Instead, the United States is engaging Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal more directly as independent actors with their own strategic value.
The report said Pakistan has become an important case in this shift, with Islamabad positioning itself as a bridge between Gulf capital, American technology and Pacific economies seeking access to critical minerals.
It also highlighted Pakistan’s ability to maintain close ties with China while expanding pragmatic cooperation with the United States on trade, minerals and regional stability.
Bangladesh was described as another increasingly important partner because of its large population, manufacturing base and strategic location near the Bay of Bengal, Myanmar and India’s northeast.
The analysis argued that the United States is seeking a more pluralistic regional balance and no longer wants any single country, including India, to dominate South Asia.
