South Korea's Lee Meets Trump to Tackle Troop Costs and China Strategy

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is gearing up for his first summit with U.S. President Donald Trump next week, set for August 25 in Washington.

The two leaders will dive into some big issues, like how much South Korea pays for the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed there and how the U.S.-South Korea alliance can address China’s growing influence in the region. Coming off a recent trade deal, the focus now shifts to security and the future of this long-standing partnership.

One major topic is the cost of keeping U.S. troops in South Korea, a holdover from the 1950-1953 Korean War. South Korea already chips in over $1 billion a year and covered the cost of building Camp Humphreys, the largest U.S. military base overseas.

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But Trump has pushed for Seoul to pay much more—potentially $5 billion to $10 billion—and wants South Korea to boost its defense spending from 3.5% to 5% of its GDP, according to Victor Cha, an expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The talks will also explore the role of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK). American officials are suggesting the troops could take on a broader mission, focusing not just on North Korea but also on countering China’s regional ambitions. General Xavier Brunson, USFK commander, noted that issues in the region are connected, hinting at possible troop shifts to address China. However, Bruce Klingner from the Mansfield Foundation warns that changing USFK’s focus could weaken its core mission of deterring North Korea and might even spark economic pushback from China, as happened after South Korea’s 2017 THAAD missile defense system deployment.

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South Korea’s Foreign Ministry says it works closely with the U.S. on troop operations, but analysts say Lee needs to carefully balance Trump’s demands with South Korea’s own interests. The leaders will also touch on North Korea’s nuclear program, though experts like Jenny Town from 38 North doubt there’ll be major breakthroughs beyond restating diplomatic goals.