South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to Meet U.S. President Trump in Historic Summit

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on August 25, 2025, in Washington, D.C., marking their first summit since Lee's election in June. The meeting aims to strengthen the bilateral security alliance and enhance economic cooperation between the two nations.

This summit follows a significant trade agreement reached in July, where the United States reduced tariffs on South Korean goods to 15%, down from the initially proposed 25%. In return, South Korea committed to investing $350 billion in the U.S. and purchasing $100 billion in American energy products over the next 3.5 years. The investment is expected to target sectors such as advanced manufacturing, clean energy, artificial intelligence, and digital infrastructure.

Key discussion points for the upcoming summit include collaboration in manufacturing sectors like semiconductors, batteries, and shipbuilding. Additionally, defense spending will be a significant topic, with the U.S. potentially urging South Korea to increase its military expenditure to support the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed there. Regional security concerns, particularly North Korea's expanding nuclear capabilities and its alignment with Russia, are also expected to be addressed.

Prior to the U.S. summit, President Lee is scheduled to visit Tokyo on August 23–24 to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The talks will focus on enhancing trilateral cooperation with Washington, reinforcing regional peace, and addressing international challenges.

The outcomes of these meetings are anticipated to have significant implications for regional security dynamics and economic partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region.