Overview
- Elbridge Colby is expected to make a three-day visit to Seoul through Tuesday as part of an Asia swing that also includes Japan, according to Yonhap citing unnamed sources.
- Discussions are likely to focus on a potential increase in South Korea's defense spending and the conditions-based transfer of wartime operational control to Seoul.
- South Korea's pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines is expected to be raised as a specific capability issue during the visit.
- Colby is expected to emphasize trilateral security cooperation with Japan and brief counterparts on the recently released U.S. National Security Strategy.
- Colby has publicly urged Asian allies to do more for their own defense, praising South Korea's move toward a higher spending benchmark, while formal trip details have not been officially confirmed.