President Donald Trump has arrived in South Korea for critical discussions with President Lee Jae Myung, focusing on trade agreements, investments, and strengthening strategic alliances to address escalating regional tensions and economic competition. The visit aligns with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders Meeting, where Trump will also engage with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump expressed confidence that the meeting with Xi will yield significant outcomes for global stability, despite the absence of a planned meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un due to timing constraints.
The discussions aim to finalize a new trade agreement between the U.S. and South Korea, with a focus on enhancing investment in the United States and aligning economic policies to counter China’s growing influence in the region. Former U.S. Embassy official Henry Haggard noted that securing a $350 billion investment package and pushing Lee to adopt a stronger stance against China are central to Trump’s agenda. The trade framework also seeks to coordinate supply chains, set new standards for digital and industrial policies, and address concerns over South Korea’s regulatory approach to foreign technology companies.
Analysts highlight that the U.S.-South Korea alliance, alongside Japan, is critical to countering China’s strategic influence. The alliance’s modernization, including military cooperation and information sharing, will be a key agenda item. The meeting with Lee Jae Myung also comes as the South Korean left-leaning government balances domestic economic reforms with maintaining strong ties to the U.S. Despite potential domestic pushback against closer ties to Trump, public support for the U.S. alliance remains strong, according to Haggard. However, challenges may arise from differing economic policies as South Korea’s global economic role expands.
Trump’s visit also precedes his meeting with Xi Jinping, which underscores the importance of U.S.-China economic and strategic dialogue amid global competition. Analysts suggest that the U.S. and South Korea’s efforts to strengthen their alliance will be pivotal in addressing shared concerns about regional security and economic stability, including threats from North Korea and broader transnational challenges.