Last month, the US military renamed its Indo-Pacific Command back to Pacific Command. The Pentagon claimed it was merely a return to the historical name, with jurisdiction unchanged. However, geopolitical analysts argue that the name change is a strategic signal.

The 'Indo' prefix was added in 2018 under the Trump administration as a deliberate gesture to New Delhi, emphasizing India's role as a counterweight to China. Then-Defense Secretary James Mattis said the renaming acknowledged the growing interconnectivity between the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Now the prefix is gone. Indian MP Shashi Tharoor called it 'another nail in the coffin of the Quad,' referring to the US-Australia-India-Japan partnership. But the move is even more significant for South Asia.

Washington is quietly ending the era where India was seen as America's primary regional partner. The US is now engaging directly with Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal, bypassing India's presumed mediation.

In Pakistan, military leader Asim Munir is expanding cooperation with the US on mineral resources and security. Bangladesh, with 170 million people and a strategic location on the Bay of Bengal, is becoming a key partner for US investment and technology.

Analysts suggest the US is determined to prevent any single power, including India, from dominating South Asia. This marks the end of India's regional veto and a shift toward a more pluralistic balance.

The Pentagon's name change signals a transition from romanticized partnership to pragmatic, issue-by-issue cooperation with India. South Asia is becoming a multipolar arena where countries pursue transactional deals.

Source: www.aljazeera.com