BEIRUT:On a significant visit to Beirut, marking Saudi Arabia’s first high-level engagement with Lebanon in years, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan expressed optimism about Lebanon’s new leadership and their ability to implement crucial reforms amid the country’s ongoing crisis.
After meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Prince Faisal stated, “We are highly confident in the president and prime minister’s ability to initiate reforms that will strengthen Lebanon’s security, stability, and unity.”
President Aoun, in turn, thanked Saudi Arabia for its efforts in supporting Lebanon, particularly in ending the presidential vacuum, and noted that the visit brought a sense of hope to the country.
Before arriving in Beirut, Prince Faisal had described Aoun’s election as a “positive development,” but emphasized that Saudi Arabia would wait for tangible changes and reforms before further deepening its engagement with Lebanon. He stressed, “We need to see real action and commitment to a forward-looking Lebanon, not one focused on past issues, to raise our engagement.”
The visit is intended to clarify Saudi Arabia’s approach toward Lebanon’s future.
Saudi Arabia had previously downgraded its diplomatic relations with Lebanon in 2021 following a Lebanese minister’s criticism of Saudi-led military actions in Yemen. In the same year, Riyadh suspended imports of Lebanese fruit and vegetables, accusing Lebanon of insufficient action against drug smuggling, particularly through shipments of produce.
