South Korean President Lee Jae-myung will meet US President Donald Trump for their first summit in Washington. Key issues include burden-sharing for US Forces Korea, countering China, and North Korea strategy. The talks could reshape Northeast Asia’s security landscape.

Summit Preview

Next week, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung will meet US President Donald Trump for their first bilateral summit.

At the core of the talks:

• Higher cost-sharing for the 28,500 US troops stationed in South Korea.

• A possible expanded alliance role in countering China’s growing influence.

Analysts caution that reorienting US Forces Korea into an explicit anti-China mission could spark Chinese retaliation, recalling the economic backlash after the THAAD missile defense deployment in 2017.

Why This Summit Matters

Balancing Deterrence and Diplomacy

Seoul continues to balance deterring North Korea while maintaining a “balanced” diplomatic approach toward Beijing.

Domestic Debates in South Korea

• Growing discussions on nuclear latency and reprocessing rights under the bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement may surface.

• Such debates carry implications for non-proliferation and regional stability.

Impact on Northeast Asia

Any signal of:

• Troop reductions or

• A sharp increase in Seoul’s defense contributions

would reverberate across the Northeast Asian security architecture.

What to Watch For

The summit is expected to set the tone for US–South Korea alliance priorities heading into 2026. Look for outcomes on:

• Burden-sharing arrangements

• Alliance role in the Indo-Pacific

• Framework for North Korea engagement

Even without major breakthroughs, a joint statement will provide clear signals on the future direction of the alliance.

Quick Snapshot (Global Context)

• Thailand acquits Thaksin Shinawatra in a landmark lèse-majesté case.

• China prepares for a heavyweight SCO Summit with Vladimir Putin, Narendra Modi, and António Guterres.

• Australia recognizes Palestine, deepening disputes with Israel ahead of September UN diplomacy.

• United Kingdom braces for asylum-hotel protests as the Labour Party defends its record and councils explore legal action.

• US–ROK Summit to tackle troop costs, China strategy, and North Korea engagement.

Conclusion

The upcoming Lee–Trump Summit will be a pivotal test of burden-sharing negotiations and the alliance’s role in countering China while managing the North Korean threat. The outcomes could have lasting consequences for the US–ROK alliance and the wider Northeast Asian security framework.