Seoul/Washington, August 13: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will visit Washington on Aug. 25 for his first summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, with talks expected to centre on trade, defence and North Korea, Lee’s office said on Tuesday.
The meeting follows a July trade deal under which Washington agreed to cut its reciprocal tariff on South Korea to 15% from the initially proposed 25%, applying the same reduced rate to South Korean cars, the country’s top export to the United States. In return, Seoul committed to buying $100 billion in U.S. energy and investing $350 billion in the American economy.
Lee and Trump could also discuss expanding cooperation in strategic industries such as semiconductors, batteries and shipbuilding, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said.
The summit comes amid concern in Seoul that the Trump administration could press for higher payments for the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea and consider reducing their number as Washington shifts greater focus to China.
“President Lee and President Trump will discuss strengthening the allies’ defence posture against growing North Korean threats, and developing the partnership into a future-oriented, comprehensive strategic alliance,” Kang said, without elaborating on specific agenda items.
Trump has long argued that Seoul should contribute more to the cost of U.S. forces in the country, a stance he first voiced during his earlier term in office. Some recent comments by senior administration officials have suggested a desire to restructure the alliance, potentially giving South Korea a greater role in countering North Korea while U.S. forces focus on China – a shift analysts warn could increase costs and risks for Seoul.
