Trump to Press Seoul for Higher Troop-Cost Share at 25 Aug Summit

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung will travel to Washington on 25 August for his first summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, where the two leaders are expected to overhaul the security alliance that underpins the deployment of 28,500 American troops on the Korean peninsula. U.S. officials say Trump will press Seoul to sharply increase its annual contribution—now a little over $1 billion—to the cost of maintaining the force, citing NATO’s burden-sharing formula and suggesting South Korea move closer to spending 5 % of GDP on defence. During previous negotiations, Trump has floated figures as high as $5 billion to $10 billion. The allies are drafting a joint declaration that would broaden the alliance’s remit to counter China, and are reviewing new U.S. investments and weapons sales to South Korea. Seoul’s national-security adviser said the government also wants to expand civilian nuclear-power cooperation with Washington. While both presidents share an openness to re-engaging North Korea, analysts expect the meeting to focus on cost-sharing and alliance modernisation rather than an immediate breakthrough with Pyongyang.