South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will face a pivotal moment on Monday when he meets US President Donald Trump in Washington for their first summit, as the countries' decades-old alliance strains to confront rapid geopolitical changes, according to Reuters.

Lee, who took office in June after a snap election, is seeking to strengthen security ties with Washington while easing tensions with Beijing. His government recently reached a deal to avoid steep US tariffs but hopes trade will not overshadow security issues at the summit.

Officials say Lee aims to build personal trust with Trump and avoid confrontation. After the meeting, he will highlight South Korea’s investments in the US, including support for the struggling shipbuilding sector, Reuters reported.