Recently, the United States announced that it was renaming the US Indo-Pacific Command back to its original US Pacific Command. William Shakespeare, who asked ‘What’s in a name?’, might not have thought much of it, but in diplomacy, optics are often as decisive as substance. This is bad news for India as it is yet another sign of New Delhi being pushed to the periphery of Washington’s vision. The US’ claim that there would be no change in the geographic jurisdiction and mission is hard to believe.

This move underscores that Washington no longer sees New Delhi as a counterweight to an aggressive Beijing in the region. In September 2018, when then US Defence Secretary James Mattis announced the USINDOPACOM, geopolitical equations were very different: Washington championed a free and open rules-based international order. It focused on containing Beijing’s influence, and India-US ties were riding high on the personal rapport between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump. Today, Sino-US ties are undergoing a cautious recalibration, with Trump even seeing a ‘G2’ (Group of Two). This shift spells trouble for the US’ allies in the region and puts the Quad’s future in uncertainty. The renaming signals that the US no longer considers India central to its South Asian calculus. From regime change in Bangladesh to its policies in Myanmar, recent US actions have cut against India’s interests. Above all, the current Washington-Islamabad bonhomie has come at New Delhi’s expense. Sergio Gor, the US Ambassador to India, downplayed the renaming, saying he didn’t “care what name is on the letterhead”. It would appear that Gor is a fan of Shakespeare. Yet, his appointment as ambassador was a clear sign of Washington downgrading its ties with India – not because of his lack of diplomatic chops, but because of his dual role as both ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs, with 12 other countries on his roster.

This is the latest in a string of anti-India actions by Washington: from terminating duty-free access to many Indian goods to imposing exorbitant tariffs and penalties, and from interfering in India’s energy policies to hosting Pakistani leaders while both neighbours were at heightened hostilities. Though it cannot stand up to the US like China, by now it must be clear to New Delhi that Washington is not a reliable ally. Towards that end, India’s trade deals with various countries and blocs are steps in the right direction. Strategic autonomy must be safeguarded, along with geopolitical and defence interests. (Source: DH)