The primary challenge may be whether Trump and Lee can abandon “America First” and “Korea first” instincts to “Make the Alliance Great Again.”

Trump’s disbelief in the value of U.S. forces in South Korea is long-standing and unchanged, and may impact the upcoming summit.

The U.S. and South Korean economies rebounded faster than expected in the second quarter this year, and the outlook for the remainder of 2025 is cautiously optimistic.

South Korea is the largest foreign direct investor in Vietnam, with investments totaling USD 92 billion at the end of 2024.

For the first time since 1994, the ruling LDP coalition controls neither chamber of the Japanese legislature.

Reaching such a deal before August 1 allows Korea to compete with trading partners such as the European Union and Japan on a level playing field.