(Image source from: The Express Tribune)

In a move that marks the thriving military ties with India, the United States has renamed its Pacific Command or PACOM, which was formed after World War II to Indo-Pacific Command.

The decision is considered to be an endeavor to counter China's ascending footprint in the region.

In a statement, Defense Secretary James N Mattis said that the relation with US's allies in Pacific and Indian Ocean have proven critical to maintaining regional stability.

"We stand by our partners and support their sovereign decisions, because all nations large and small are essential to the region if we're to sustain stability in ocean areas critical to global peace. Further, in recognition of increasing stability between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, today we rename the US Pacific Command to US Indo-Pacific Command. Over many decades this command has repeated adapted to changing circumstance, and today carries that legacy forward as America focuses west," Mattis said.

As U.S. has uttered against China's growing advancements in the region the move is momentous. Earlier this month, U.S. Admiral Philip Davidson reportedly told the Senate Armed Service Committee that U.S.'s edge over the Pacific was an asset. In a written testimony, he further said that China was stealing technology in every domain achievable and attempting to use it to their advantage.

He had also noted that the relationship between India and the US was possibly a historic opportunity that he "intended to pursue quite rigorously."

Last month, the Ministry of External Affairs said that both India and United States explored ways to further depend operational cooperation in the resource-rich Indo-Pacific region.

By Sowmya Sangam