South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is set to meet with President Donald Trump next week for their first summit, where discussions are expected to center on security issues, the cost of maintaining U.S. troops in South Korea, and the growing influence of China in the region.
A key focus of the talks will be what officials term “burden-sharing.” The United States currently maintains approximately 28,500 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-1953 Korean War. Seoul presently contributes over $1 billion annually to support this presence and has funded the construction of Camp Humphreys, the largest U.S. military base overseas.
President Trump may push for a significant increase in South Korea’s financial contribution. Some suggest he might seek as much as $5 billion or even $10 billion annually. This comes as part of a broader push for U.S. allies to increase defense spending to around 5% of GDP. South Korea’s current defense budget stands at 3.5% of its GDP.
The significance of this should not be overlooked. Wi Sung-lac, South Korea’s top security advisor, has stated that Seoul is considering higher defense spending and wishes to modernize its alliance with the United States. However, he emphasized that specific figures are still under discussion.
The summit is expected to address the complex dynamics of U.S.-China relations. Some Pentagon officials reportedly aim to refocus the U.S.-South Korea alliance towards countering China’s regional influence. This presents a delicate balancing act for President Lee, who has pledged support for the U.S. alliance while also advocating for a balanced approach between Washington and Beijing.
Also Read: China Marks 60 Years of Tightened Communist Party Grip on Tibet
The situation with North Korea remains a critical issue. Both leaders have expressed openness to engaging with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. However, Pyongyang has thus far rebuffed recent diplomatic overtures and has strengthened its ties with Russia. Experts suggest that while the summit may reaffirm commitment to diplomacy and denuclearization, substantial progress on North Korea is unlikely.
This raises important questions about the future of nuclear policy in the region. Some South Korean officials have discussed the concept of “nuclear latency”, the capability to quickly develop nuclear weapons if needed. However, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has stated that any pursuit of nuclear reprocessing or enrichment capabilities would be solely for industrial or environmental purposes.