The White House has officially confirmed the schedule for US President Donald Trump&rsquo;s summit with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, marking one of the most closely watched diplomatic engagements of the year.
Trump will personally welcome Lee at noon on Monday (Washington time), before heading into a bilateral meeting at the Oval Office. The talks will be followed by a working luncheon at the Cabinet Room, where both leaders are expected to dive into a range of pressing issues.
This marks Lee&rsquo;s first high-profile visit to Washington as president, with expectations running high over the outcomes. A White House official noted the discussions would focus on &ldquo;security, trade, and modernization of the alliance,&rdquo; at a time when both sides are navigating rising tensions with an increasingly assertive China.
Ahead of his arrival, Lee struck a measured tone on one of the most sensitive sticking points, the role of the 28,500 US troops stationed in South Korea. Speaking to reporters on his flight from Tokyo to Washington, he said, &ldquo;A demand by Washington on strategic flexibility of the US forces stationed in South Korea is difficult to agree with, but discussions about the future role of US Forces Korea are necessary.&rdquo;
The two sides are also expected to address defense cost-sharing and tariff negotiations, issues that have long shaped the contours of the US-South Korea partnership.
For Trump, the summit comes at a critical time as he seeks to showcase strength in US alliances while recalibrating Washington&rsquo;s Indo-Pacific strategy. For Lee, it represents a chance to balance domestic priorities with external pressures, while reinforcing Seoul&rsquo;s role as a key player in regional stability.

Trump, Lee to Hold High-Stakes White House Talks

Security, trade and US troop role on agenda as Trump hosts Lee Jae Myung for summit

Trump, Lee to Hold High-Stakes White House Talks

Security, trade and US troop role on agenda as Trump hosts Lee Jae Myung for summit

August 25, 2025 | 15:33 IST