Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Aug 25: The White House has announced that US President Donald Trump will host South Korean President Lee Jae Myung for a high-stakes summit and working lunch this week, with key discussions expected on security, trade, and the evolving role of U.S. forces in the region.

President Lee, who arrived in Washington following a stop in Tokyo, will be welcomed at the White House at noon on Monday, with a bilateral meeting set to begin shortly after in the Oval Office. This will be followed by a formal lunch in the Cabinet Room at 12:45 p.m., according to a schedule released by the White House.

While the summit's finer details had not been made public until now, the meeting has drawn considerable attention as both nations grapple with growing security concerns in East Asia and the strategic recalibration of the U.S.–South Korea alliance.

A major point of contention is the future role of the 28,500 American troops stationed in South Korea. Washington is reportedly pushing for greater "strategic flexibility" in their deployment as part of broader efforts to counter China’s expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific.

Speaking to reporters en route from Tokyo, President Lee acknowledged the difficulty of agreeing to the U.S. demand on troop flexibility, but emphasized the need for open discussions regarding the future of U.S. Forces Korea. He noted that defense cost-sharing and tariffs are also likely to be central to his talks with Trump.

The summit comes at a critical juncture as both countries navigate shifting geopolitical dynamics and seek to modernize a decades-old alliance to meet emerging challenges in the region.