SEOUL — South Korean President Lee Jae-myung faces an uphill battle in bolstering relations with both China and the U.S., with some analysts suggesting he may find himself unable to execute a non-aligned, strategically ambiguous foreign policy.
Since taking office on Wednesday, Lee has pledged to take a “pragmatic” approach to foreign policy, whereby he would prioritize the interests of South Korea’s export-led economy. He aims to maintain productive trading ties with major markets while avoiding picking a side in the worsening rivalry between China under President Xi Jinping and the second administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
