On June 29, 2026, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor addressed the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum Leadership Summit in Washington, where he dismissed the controversy surrounding the renaming of the Indo-Pacific Command. Gor emphasized that the name on the letterhead is insignificant, and instead, one should focus on the actions of the United States. He highlighted that India still conducts more military exercises with the US than any other country and has regular bilateral visits of defense officials.
The US Pacific Command, established in 1947, was renamed the Indo-Pacific Command during President Donald Trump’s first term, citing India’s growing importance in the region. However, the US recently restored the original name of the unified command. Gor stated, ‘I don’t care what name is on a letterhead, but look at what the United States is actually doing.’ He also mentioned that a delegation of the Indian Navy will be visiting the US in the next two weeks.
Gor rejected suggestions that bilateral ties between the US and India had weakened, stating that the overall relationship remains strong. He cited the frequency of military exercises and bilateral visits as evidence of the robust relationship. Gor also recalled an incident where President Trump decided to call Prime Minister Modi from Miami, demonstrating the informal and friendly nature of their relationship.
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📰 Source: The Hindu National