South Korea’s New President Faces His Biggest Test Yet - A High-Stakes Meeting With Trump

When South Korea’s newly elected president, Lee Jae Myung, steps into the White House on Monday, he won’t just be meeting Donald Trump for the first time he’ll be walking into one of the most pivotal moments of his young presidency.

Lee, who only took office in June after a snap election triggered by his predecessor’s downfall, faces the monumental challenge of balancing South Korea’s reliance on the United States with its deep economic ties to China. And now, with Trump at the helm in Washington, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

The U.S. South Korea alliance has always been strong, but it’s no secret that Trump has been one of Seoul’s harshest critics. He’s repeatedly called South Korea a “money machine” that takes advantage of American military protection. Now, Trump is expected to press Lee for billions more in defense spending and a larger financial commitment toward the 28,500 American troops stationed on the Korean peninsula.

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For Lee, that’s a dangerous tightrope to walk. He can’t afford to upset Trump, but he also knows that caving too far could spark backlash at home. To prepare, Lee even revealed that he’s been reading Trump: The Art of the Deal on his flight to Washington a symbolic gesture that shows just how carefully he’s studying his unpredictable counterpart.

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But trade and defense aren’t the only items on the agenda. Both leaders are expected to discuss ways to pressure North Korea into freezing, and eventually dismantling, its nuclear program. Over the weekend, Kim Jong Un personally oversaw missile tests while blasting Lee’s outreach to Japan as “despicable.” That only underscores the volatile backdrop of this summit.

Analysts say Lee’s best strategy is to avoid surprises, keep the conversation simple, and try to connect with Trump personally. “For Lee, a no-news summit would be a good outcome,” said Victor Cha of CSIS. In other words: if nothing blows up, it’s already a win.

Still, much hangs in the balance. Will Trump see Lee as a partner or another leader he can squeeze for concessions? For South Korea’s new president, this meeting may define not only his relationship with Washington, but also the future of the region.

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