Since the beginning of Unified Command Plans (UCP) in 1946, the US Department of Defence (DOD) divides the world up into geographic combatant commands (GCC).
Currently there are seven GCCs, six on Earth and one in Space. Each has a defined area of responsibility (AOR) which at a minimum is reviewed every two years.
A series of world AOR maps known as the 1107 series and titled “The World with Commanders’ Areas of Responsibility” is available. These maps are created by the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA), formally known as the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) and the Defence Mapping Agency (DMA).
The most recent edition of the 1107 series found (Edition 9 – 06 April 2011) is shown below.
Previous editions of the 1107 series include:
| Edition | Effective Date | Based on UCP | Map Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | unknown | 17 Jan 1996 | Edition 1 DMA |
| 2 | unknown | 19 Jan 1998 | Edition 2 NIMA |
| 3 | unknown | 1999 | Edition 3 NIMA |
| 4 | unknown | 1999 | Edition 4 NIMA |
| 5 | 01 Oct 2002 | 30 Apr 2002 | Edition 5 NIMA |
| 6 | 01 Mar 2005 | 01 Mar 2005 | Edition 6 NGA |
| 7 | unknown | unknown | unknown |
| 8 | 17 Dec 2008 | 17 Dec 2008 | Edition 8 NGA |
| 9 | 06 Apr 2011 | 06 Apr 2011 | Edition 9 NGA |
It is not known if further editions in this series were created or if the series was replaced with another.
CENTCOM Area of Responsibility
According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM) wesbite, the CENTCOM AOR broadly covers what is known as the Middle East and Central Asia, but with the following differences:
– Inclusion of Afghanistan and Pakistan
– Exclusion of Israel and Turkey
However, the published AOR map is incorrect and needs updating because Israel has now been moved into the CENTCOM AOR.
Israel CENTCOM Reclassification Act
On the 8th December 2020 the Israel CENTCOM Reclassification Act was introduced to the US Congress requesting a study and report from the Joint Chiefs of Staff on the potential transfer of Israel to the CENTCOM AOR.
In regards to the assignment of CENTCOM’s geographic boundaries, the bill refers to the UCP requirement for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to consider:
“whether the current geographic boundary between the United States Central Command and European Command through the Middle East could create command conflicts in the context of a major regional conflict in the Middle East region.”
The bill was referred to the US Senate Committee of Foreign Relations and has not been passed into law.
DOD Announcement
Towards the end of his presidency, President Trump ordered the Pentagon to move Israel to CENTCOM’s AOR and on the 15th January 2021 the DOD published a press release stating:
“The United States has made a change to the Unified Command Plan. The 2020 UCP shifts Israel from the U.S European Command area of responsibility to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.”
The DOD also stated the reasons for the change which are summarised below as:
– Easing of tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbors subsequent to the Abraham Accords
– Opportunity to align key partners against shared threats in the Middle East
– Additional opportunities for cooperation with CENTCOM partners
– Maintaining strong cooperation between Israel and European allies
Both a report by the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA) and a report by the Jerusalem Post claim some influence in the decision.
The Biden-Harris Administration
On the 27th January 2021, CENTCOM announced their first presence patrol of the Biden-Harris administration.
Around the same time there was a meeting between Israeli Defense Force (IDF) Chief Aviv Kochavi and CENTCOM head, General Kenneth McKenzie with the Israeli Defense Minister, Benny Gantz tweeting:
The 26th February 2021 saw the first military action under the Biden-Harris administration. An air strike within the CENTCOM AOR targeting Iran-backed militias in Syria.
Around the same time there was a meeting between Israeli Air Force, Major General Amikam Norkin and Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) Commander, Lieutenant General Gregory M. Guillot.
No doubt there are issues still to resolve and implications for the wider region. And perhaps a new edition of the 1107 series of maps?
geo.fyi 