Washington: Senior U.S. diplomat Christopher Landau has highlighted the release of a joint fact sheet between South Korea and the United States as a significant advancement in the alliance between the two nations. This development was emphasized during a forum co-hosted by the Atlantic Council and the Korea Society.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the joint fact sheet was released on Thursday (Washington time) and outlines the outcomes of two pivotal summits between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump. These meetings took place in August at the White House and more recently in Gyeongju, Korea, ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. The document serves as a roadmap for future collaboration in areas such as rebuilding and expanding critical industries and enhancing commercial ties.
Landau stressed the importance of this document, urging stakeholders to examine it closely as it lays out joint priorities for the U.S.-Korea relationship moving forward. These priorities include maintaining foreign exchange market stability, promoting reciprocal trade, modernizing the bilateral alliance, and furthering maritime and nuclear partnerships.
The senior diplomat also noted the positive rapport between Presidents Trump and Lee, describing their relationship as “great.” He highlighted the economic benefits secured during Trump’s state visit to Korea, including “landmark” deals that promise to inject billions of dollars into the American economy and bolster the U.S.-Korea partnership.
Landau emphasized the critical role of South Korea in revitalizing American manufacturing, particularly in sectors like shipbuilding, energy, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, and AI Quantum. He underscored the need for Korean investments and expertise to help train American workers in these precision manufacturing fields.
Addressing a recent immigration issue involving Korean workers at a battery factory site in Georgia, Landau called it a “regrettable incident.” He reiterated President Trump’s welcoming stance towards Korean experts who are integral to implementing significant investments in the U.S. economy.
To prevent future occurrences, Landau announced efforts to establish a special desk at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul and the development of a new visa category. These initiatives aim to facilitate the entry of skilled Korean workers needed to train Americans, in accordance with U.S. immigration laws.