South Korea’s new president, Lee Jae Myung, will hold his first summit with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday in a meeting widely seen as a pivotal test of Seoul’s diplomacy amid shifting geopolitical tensions.
Lee, who assumed office in June after a snap election triggered by the removal of his predecessor, faces the challenge of balancing South Korea’s security reliance on Washington with its deep economic ties to China.
Ahead of his U.S. visit, Lee dispatched a delegation to Beijing to call for improved relations, underscoring his effort to avoid antagonizing either of Seoul’s powerful partners.
The summit comes at a delicate moment. Trump has long accused South Korea of taking advantage of American military protection, even as 28,500 U.S. troops remain stationed on the peninsula.
Washington is expected to press Lee for greater defence spending and further purchases of U.S. weapons, though Seoul is reluctant to accept demands for “flexibility” in deploying American forces for broader regional operations.
Lee’s aides insist trade issues, including a recent deal that spared South Korea from harsh new U.S. tariffs in exchange for major investment pledges, should not dominate the summit. “Our position is that trade was already finalised last time,” said Kim Yong-beom, Lee’s chief policy aide.
Instead, discussions are likely to focus on security, particularly North Korea. Both leaders back engagement with Pyongyang, though Lee favours a phased approach to denuclearisation. The talks come as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw weapons tests over the weekend and dismissed U.S.–South Korean overtures as hostile.
Lee has worked to strengthen trilateral coordination, meeting Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Tokyo on Saturday to exchange views on Washington and trade policy. North Korean state media lashed out at the visit, calling it “despicable.”
The South Korean president arrived in Washington on Sunday, accompanied by senior ministers, in a bid to iron out last-minute details. After his meeting with Trump, he is scheduled to visit a Philadelphia shipyard owned by Hanwha Group, highlighting South Korea’s promised investments in U.S. industry.
For Lee, analysts say, the priority is to establish trust with Trump while avoiding diplomatic pitfalls. “For Lee, a no-news summit would be good,” said Victor Cha of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Written By Rodney Mbua
