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U.S. Reaffirms ‘Ironclad’ Alliance with South Korea After Lee Jae-myung’s Election

Washington is pressing Seoul to boost its defense contributions; officials are mapping out a trilateral security framework with Tokyo to deter China’s assertiveness

Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of South Korea's Democratic Party, speaks to his supporters, outside of National Assembly, in Seoul, South Korea, June 4, 2025. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

Overview

  • A White House spokesperson declared the U.S.-South Korea alliance “ironclad,” and a Pentagon official echoed that commitment to Seoul’s defense.
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated Lee Jae-myung as the 14th president and underscored plans to modernize bilateral security ties under the Mutual Defense Treaty.
  • U.S. officials voiced opposition to Chinese interference in democracies and pledged to monitor external influence following South Korea’s vote.
  • Seoul is expected to enter talks with Washington on unresolved issues including U.S. tariffs, increased defense cost-sharing and a possible realignment of U.S. Forces Korea deployments.
  • President-elect Lee has framed the U.S. partnership as the cornerstone of his pragmatic foreign policy while seeking to manage a stable relationship with Beijing.