The India-US defence partnership has a unity of purpose to maintain peace through strength, Admiral Samuel J Paparo, Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, said on Sunday even as he complimented the Indian military for displaying restraint during Operation Sindoor.In an interaction with a small group of journalists, Paparo flagged serious concerns over the Indo-Pacific region witnessing increasing “coercion” and “aggression”, in an indirect reference to China’s military muscle-flexing in the region.The senior military commander, currently on a visit to New Delhi, said India and the US have convergence of interests and both sides are looking at further bolstering the defence and military ties especially in the maritime domain.Admiral Paparo said the US-India defence relationship was on a “steeply upward trajectory” and it was set to expand further.“We think our partnerships have an exponential effect on deterrence, because it demonstrates a unity of purpose among us to maintain peace and a peace through strength,” he said.“I think as our policy leaders are managing the relationships, it’s the duty of our military leaders to keep a close eye on capability and to be ready to contest that capability at any moment” he said.