Washington sources have stated that Trump embarks on a 12 day trip later this week to visit Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and Philippines. He will not be paying a visit to India this time. "It certainly plays a big role," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters at her daily news conference when asked about India's role in the Indo-Pacific region. She was asked "Does this administration see India as a pivotal part of your strategy when it comes to the Asia-Pacific more broadly?”
Meanwhile the State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert told reporters at a separate news conference "She can tell you that we have a close relationship with India, that we have a lot of areas of common interest, including we are both democracies; we're both large countries. They're an enormous country".
Moreover she said, referring to the major India policy speech given by the
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson last month, soon after which he travelled to
India that "India can bring so much, not only to the region, but to the
world. In addition, many American jobs, through greater trade and cooperation
with that country".