The upcoming April 26 summit between Presidents Joe Biden and Yoon Suk-yeol will be an important bellwether to gauge how and whether Seoul’s diplomatic ventures have successfully bolstered the country’s security and economic prospects.

As North Korea’s threat continues to grow and geopolitical rifts and financial instability persist, South Korea’s export-reliant economy faces challenges. In response, Yoon has prioritized the U.S. as Seoul’s most important partner in overcoming these difficulties. Since taking office last year, Yoon has worked to prove Seoul’s value as a high-tech, democratic ally to Washington.