India, a strategic partner of the United States in its efforts to counter China, is keen to enhance trade relations with the U.S. and make it easier for its citizens to get skilled worker visas, two topics that will be on the agenda if the leaders meet, the sources said.

Jaishankar said that the two countries would like to deepen ties in defence, security, technology and more domains and are competing on how to take it forward.

Indian and US diplomats are trying to arrange a meeting in February between PM Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump in Washington as worries rise over tariffs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s relationship with the world’s biggest economies will help India overcome any “negative impacts” from shifts in global trade under President Donald Trump, a top official said on Wednesday.