- While Trump and Lee are in agreement on some issues, the upcoming summit remains unpredictable as Trump is expected to return to his transactional demand that South Korea pay more for its own defense, leaving the task of limiting damage to the alliance to President Lee. His challenge will be dealing with Trump's personality and establishing a positive personal relationship.

- President Lee's top priority will be to solidify the details of the recent U.S.-ROK trade deal and to bring stability to the economic relationship. In order to prioritize the economic dimension, Lee will likely be prepared to engage on security issues on the U.S.'s terms and shape them to South Korea's advantage rather than outright resisting U.S. proposals. 

- The summit is a critical moment for South Korea to define its role in a changing region. President Lee must work to prevent Seoul from being sidelined in future U.S.-North Korea diplomacy, as both Washington and Pyongyang tend to prefer direct talks. Additionally, the meeting occurs as South Korea attempts to balance its security alliance with the U.S. and its vital economic relationship with China. How Lee navigates U.S. pressure to take a clearer stance on China will be a key factor in his long-term foreign policy success.

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