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Trump-Lee summit: what can a ‘turtle ship’ do for the US-South Korea alliance?
Seoul’s shipbuilding expertise is expected to be a key bargaining chip when the two presidents meet on Monday
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South Korean President Lee Jae-myung is set to meet US President Donald Trump for the first time next week, seeking to dispel doubts in Washington about his progressive government’s commitment to strengthening their military alliance.
The meeting, scheduled for Monday in Washington, comes with President Lee under pressure to demonstrate unwavering support for the US-South Korea alliance, even as his administration faces scepticism in Washington about its long-term strategic intentions.
“The summit is an opportunity for President Lee to dispel lingering doubts in Washington about his government’s commitment,” said Cho Han-bum, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification.
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Lee’s spokeswoman, Kang Yu-jung, described the summit as a step towards “a future-oriented, comprehensive strategic alliance” amid a rapidly evolving global security and economic landscape.
South Korea is expected to offer its world-leading shipbuilding expertise to help the US Navy’s expansion plans – a move designed to ease pressure in other areas, such as Washington’s demands for Seoul to provide greater market access for its agricultural products.
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