US President Donald Trump (right) meets with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung at the White House in Washington on Aug. 25. (©Reuters)
On August 25, United States President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung met in Washington for a summit that doubled as Lee's first major diplomatic test since taking office in June.
The stakes were high. In Seoul and beyond, questions mounted over how the new left-leaning president would navigate relations with Washington amid escalating trade disputes and the resurgence of Cold War–era geopolitical blocs.
Against this backdrop, lingering doubts also persisted about Lee's foreign policy instincts. Before and after his inauguration, critics raised concerns over his perceived tilt toward China and the potential for renewed tensions with Japan over historical grievances.
For now, though, the reception in the US eased those anxieties, with experts and media outlets noting a steadier hand than many had expected.
Lee's Pragmatic Shift
Far from any trailing apprehensions, the South Korean president used his Washington debut to showcase what many have called his "pragmatic" foreign policy style.
During the summit, Lee reaffirmed the "ironclad" US–South Korea alliance and pledged to make it more "future-oriented," broadening its scope beyond security ties. He also highlighted the importance of preserving trilateral coordination with Japan, pointing to his earlier visit to Tokyo for talks with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba as an effort to ease outstanding frictions.
At a later event at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the South Korean president stated that his country "can no longer maintain its previous stance" of relying on the US for security while depending on China for economic benefits.
While acknowledging that some cooperation with Beijing is still necessary, Lee said that South Korea "cannot act or make decisions that deviate from the United States' core policies [on containing China]."
Renewed Strategic Ties
Beyond reaffirming traditional commitments, the summit also signaled an expansion of the bilateral alliance into new arenas.
Discussions focused on Seoul's role in revamping critical US industries, particularly the shipbuilding sector, which has experienced a sharp contraction in recent decades.
American shipbuilding capacity has steadily declined since the 1980s, hampered by policy shortcomings and foreign competition. South Korea's shipbuilding industry, in contrast, is second only to China and has become highly efficient.
Some moves are already underway. In 2024, Hanwha Ocean, a South Korean shipbuilder, secured two US Navy contracts and acquired Philly Shipyard.
As part of a broader $350 billion investment package signed in earlier bilateral trade talks, the two countries are expected to expand cooperation in areas such as the Alaska LNG pipeline and civilian nuclear energy.
South Korea as a 'Pacemaker'
Another prominent topic during the Oval Office meeting was the prospect of renewed engagement with North Korea.
During his first term, Trump met with the North Korean leader on three separate occasions in what was dubbed a historic encounter. However, the talks failed to produce a concrete deal, as both sides remained firm on their key interests.
When asked about the prospect of meeting Kim Jong Un again, Trump said he "gets along great" with Kim and expressed enthusiasm for reviving the stalled negotiations.
Lee echoed that sentiment, portraying South Korea as a "pacemaker" to Trump's self-styled role as "peacemaker" on the Korean Peninsula.
Long Road Ahead
Even with encouraging optics, uncertainties remain.
Trump's foreign policy, assertive but often unpredictable, continues to inject volatility into the regional equation. Since Lee's inauguration, senior Republicans and administration officials have pressed key American allies to shoulder greater responsibility in Washington's Indo-Pacific strategy, particularly in countering China.
At the same time, the Trump administration's recent proposal to admit 600,000 Chinese students, along with sweeping tariffs and looming defense burden-sharing demands, has cast fresh doubts on the coherence of that strategy.
The North Korean dimension is equally fraught. While both leaders showed interest in reengaging Pyongyang, the incentives for the Kim regime's return to the table have diminished in recent years.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, North Korea has tightened its alignment with Moscow, while weakening its ties with Seoul and Washington. The previous left-leaning Moon Jae In administration's failure to produce meaningful results has likewise undermined Seoul's credibility as an intermediary between Kim and Trump.
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Author: Kenji Yoshida
