All eyes on August 25: Korea, US leaders gear up for crucial alliance talks

The inaugural summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump is anticipated to take place on August 25 in Washington, DC.

President Lee is expected to arrive in the United States on August 24, with the summit slated for the following day at the White House, Caliber.Az reports, citing Korean media.

While final arrangements are reportedly being coordinated with US officials, the possibility of changes to the date during the concluding phases of negotiation remains.

The South Korean presidential office has maintained a discreet stance regarding the summit schedule, emphasizing the importance of diplomatic protocol and joint coordination. “The summit date will be determined through diplomatic coordination between the two countries, and due to diplomatic practices, we cannot provide advance details at this time,” presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung told reporters during a press briefing at the presidential office on August 6.

“Once the date is finalized and mutual agreement is reached, we will of course inform the media first.”

Should the summit proceed as planned on August 25, it will mark President Lee’s first formal bilateral meeting with President Trump just 82 days after taking office.

The discussions are expected to encompass a broad spectrum of issues pivotal to the South Korea-US alliance, including ongoing negotiations related to tariffs and trade policies. Furthermore, the summit is likely to focus on the so-called “modernization” of the alliance, a multifaceted agenda that may involve increased South Korean defence contributions, adjustments to the deployment and operational roles of US Forces Korea, and a closer strategic alignment with US efforts to counterbalance China’s regional influence.

President Lee had initially intended to hold his first bilateral meeting with President Trump in mid-June during the G7 summit in Canada. However, that meeting was abruptly canceled after President Trump returned to the United States due to escalating tensions following an Israeli airstrike on Iran.

By Vafa Guliyeva