[Anchor]

As U.S. pressure mounts regarding troop deployment to the Strait of Hormuz and investments in the United States, President Lee Jae-myung has clarified his stance on South Korea-U.S. relations through an interview with a French media outlet. President Lee evaluated that U.S. President Donald Trump has the "will to adjust the South Korea-U.S. alliance in accordance with the times."

Reporting from Nice, here is Park Yerim.

[Reporter]

The Mayor of Nice presents a commemorative medal to President Lee Jae-myung and the First Lady upon their arrival in the southern French city of Nice.

Ahead of his state visit to France, President Lee conducted a written interview with the French daily Le Monde.

Regarding South Korea-U.S. relations, President Lee stated, "I do not believe that U.S. President Donald Trump is questioning the sustainability of the South Korea-U.S. alliance," adding, "I view it as an intention to move away from traditional perspectives on the alliance and adjust it to fit changing historical realities."

Amid overt pressure and measures from the Trump administration on issues such as U.S. investments, South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises, and troop deployment to the Strait of Hormuz, President Lee effectively emphasized that the alliance remains unshaken and is merely undergoing readjustment.

Mentioning the increase in defense spending and the expansion of military capabilities, President Lee also explained that South Korea is steadily raising its role and burden within the alliance.

President Lee is scheduled to hold a summit with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris tomorrow night, Korea time.

President Macron previously hosted a virtual multilateral summit last April for freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and cooperation on the troop deployment requested by the U.S. is expected to be on the agenda.

Earlier this afternoon, Korea time, President Lee attended the Lumiere Summit—an international film and audiovisual summit—in his capacity as co-chair and announced a South Korea-France investment plan.

[President Lee Jae-myung : This includes a commitment by South Korea and France to each invest 500 million euros, approximately 800 billion won, in the film and broadcasting content industries over the next five years.]

The presidential office stated that this will serve as an opportunity to diversify the overseas expansion of K-content.

(Camera-the-field: Yoon Hyung | Video Editing: Lee Seung-hee)