South Korean President Lee Jae Myung arrived in Tokyo on August 23, 2025, for a crucial diplomatic visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties with Japan and preparing for an upcoming summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on August 25, 2025.
The discussions in both Tokyo and Washington are expected to focus on trilateral security cooperation, China's growing regional influence, South Korea's financial contributions to the U.S. troop presence, and trade agreements. President Lee's itinerary in Tokyo included meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, with a particular emphasis on enhancing security cooperation within the U.S.-South Korea-Japan trilateral framework. This visit occurs against a backdrop of historical tensions between the two nations, stemming from Japan's colonial past and controversial visits by Japanese officials to a war shrine. Despite these historical undercurrents, both President Lee and Prime Minister Ishiba have expressed a commitment to improving relations.
In Washington, President Lee's summit with President Trump is anticipated to address the modernization of the U.S.-South Korea alliance and reinforce their joint defense posture. A key point of discussion will be South Korea's financial contributions for the approximately 28,500 American troops stationed in the country. This follows a new five-year agreement reached earlier in the year, which raised Seoul's contribution by 8.3 percent to $1.13 billion for 2026, reflecting ongoing negotiations on defense cost-sharing.
Economically, the leaders are expected to discuss trade agreements, including a previously agreed-upon 15% tariff on U.S. imports between Japan and South Korea, a deal that helped avert higher tariffs. Broader economic cooperation, with potential advancements in sectors like shipbuilding and artificial intelligence, will also be on the agenda. The strategic importance of these meetings is amplified by the broader regional context, where South Korea, Japan, and the United States are key allies in countering China's expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific.