India visit seen building on key alliance amid Trump-era shift on China

By Lee Cohen The Trump administration sees India as an important strategic ally in the region, particularly useful in pushing back against China’s Asian reach. While the past several years have yielded little significant progress in trade relations, the bilateral economic and defense relationships between the U.S. and India are too compelling to abandon. With that in mind, U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump make their first official visit to India next week. The president is using the occasion to “strengthen the United States-India strategic partnership,” according to a White House statement. From the U.S. standpoint, the visit will strongly encourage the U.S.-India trade relationship in hopes of…