Lebanese President Aims to Repair Ties with Saudi Arabia During Historic Visit

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun visited Saudi Arabia, aiming to improve bilateral relations after years of tensions primarily due to Hezbollah’s influence. This visit, the first by a Lebanese head of state in six years, comes as Lebanon seeks the lifting of travel bans and increased support for its military. Aoun emphasized the importance of Saudi support in ensuring Lebanon’s stability and constitutional order.

BEIRUT (AP) — The President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, expressed his aspiration to enhance relations with Saudi Arabia during his recent visit to the kingdom, marking the first time in six years that a Lebanese head of state has visited Riyadh. This visit occurs against the backdrop of previously strained diplomatic ties, particularly over Lebanon’s association with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and regional diplomatic stances.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has expressed significant apprehensions regarding Hezbollah’s influence and has imposed travel and import restrictions on Lebanon. The new leadership in Lebanon, including President Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, is perceived as a setback for Hezbollah as relations between the two countries begin to gradually improve.

Lebanon is optimistic that Saudi Arabia may soon lift the travel ban, thereby restoring trade relations and supporting the country’s reconstruction efforts after the devastation caused by the conflict with Israel. President Aoun noted that this visit provided a vital opportunity to reaffirm the strength of Lebanese-Saudi relations and acknowledge Saudi Arabia’s role in promoting stability in Lebanon.

Tensions between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia escalated in 2021, leading to a diplomatic crisis marked by criticisms of Lebanon’s response to drug smuggling and disparaging remarks made by a Lebanese information minister about Saudi military involvement in Yemen. Last week, President Aoun informed Asharq News that Saudi Arabia might reactivate a $3 billion military assistance package for the Lebanese army to bolster its border security efforts.

This significant one-day visit is not only President Aoun’s first international trip since his election in January but also follows a recent visit by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan to Lebanon, indicating a potential thaw in relations between the two nations.

In conclusion, President Joseph Aoun’s visit to Saudi Arabia signifies a pivotal step in mending relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia after years of tension. With hopes to lift travel bans and restore trade, Aoun’s leadership represents a shift in Lebanon’s political stance that may foster cooperation and regional stability. As both nations strive to enhance diplomatic ties, the outcomes of this visit could be crucial for Lebanon’s future economic and security landscape.

Original Source: www.wral.com