The US Department of War has announced a change of name for its largest military command, and removed a reference to the ‘Indian Ocean’.The US Indo-Pacific Command (US Indo-Pacom) will officially revert to its original name—US Pacific Command (US Pacom), the US Department of War announced on Tuesday. However, there is no change in the nature of operations or the area of responsibility, it added.  Military forces of India closely work and operate with the US-Pacom headquartered in Hawaii.This reversion to the original name is happening eight years after the name ‘US Indo-Pacom’ was coined in 2018,  in a largely symbolic move underscoring the growing importance of India to the Pentagon. The name ‘US Indo-Pacom’ was given during the first term of  US President Donald Trump  ( 2016-2020) and in May 2018, the US Defence Secretary James Mattis while announcing the change had said “the command stretches from Bollywood to Hollywood”.The US Pacom, defines its area of responsibility—spanning  from the waters off the West Coast of the United States to the western border of India.The area of responsibility would remain the same despite the name change, the US Pacom said in a statement adding “the command’s fundamental mission and its unwavering commitment to maintaining ‘a free and open theatre’ alongside regional allies and partners are unchanged”.In strategic circles the phrase  ‘a free and open theatre’ is euphemism for opposing Chinese hegemony and attempts to impede traffic at sea and in air.Giving a justification for ‘restoring’ the legacy US-Pacom designation, the US statement said it honors the command’s deep historical roots, fostering a sense of pride and collective spirit among all who serve in the Pacific. From its critical role in establishing the post-WWII regional security architecture to its coordination of joint forces during the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and countless humanitarian operations. “The US Pacom namesake carries decades of military heritage and enduring regional partnerships,” it added.Notably, in 2018 when the name US Indo-Pacom was coined the Defence Secretary James Mattis had said “In recognition of the increasing connectivity between the Indian and Pacific oceans, we rename the U.S. Pacific Command to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.”The US-Pacom was originally established post the world war II, on January 1, 1947, by President Harry S. Truman.