Lebanon Engages in Crucial Talks with France and Israel Amid Regional Realignment
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and President Michel Aoun held significant phone conversations with French President Emmanuel Macron, focusing on a spectrum of critical issues affecting Lebanon and the wider region. These discussions were reported by Al Jazeera and published by Mehr News Agency.
Prime Minister Salam and President Macron exchanged views on creating conditions conducive to two conferences aimed at supporting the Lebanese army and facilitating the country’s reconstruction. The conversations also delved into the latest developments in Lebanon and the region, particularly in the context of the Iran-US negotiations that recently concluded in Switzerland. Both leaders reviewed the situation in southern Lebanon following the ceasefire announcement and outlined potential next steps.
Discussions also encompassed the outcomes of the G7 summit held in France the previous week, with President Aoun expressing gratitude for the support pledged to Lebanon during the meeting. A key point of deliberation was the post-UNIFIL mandate phase in southern Lebanon. Several European nations, supported by Lebanon, have expressed a desire to maintain their forces’ presence in the international operational area. President Macron affirmed his commitment to consulting with various countries to ascertain their positions on this matter, noting that the UNIFIL forces’ exit from Lebanon is scheduled to begin in early 2027, necessitating the establishment of a suitable framework for any alternative international participation.
The bilateral relationship between Lebanon and Syria, along with existing coordination mechanisms, was also a topic of discussion. Both Presidents Aoun and Macron agreed to maintain continuous contact and consultations to monitor developments and efforts aimed at consolidating the ceasefire and extending the Lebanese government’s sovereignty over its entire territory.
In parallel to these diplomatic efforts, the fifth round of indirect negotiations between Lebanon and Israel has begun at the United States Department of State in Washington, according to Al Jazeera’s correspondent.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Sahyoun emphasized that negotiation is the sole pathway to guarantee stability and extend governmental sovereignty across the nation. He stated that Lebanon must be an influential partner in any regional arrangements concerning the future of the Middle East, rather than being a subject of decisions made in negotiations from which it is excluded. Sahyoun shared details of his participation in the 165th session of the Council of the Arab League at the foreign minister level in Amman, Jordan. He acknowledged the contributions of former Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit for his support of Lebanon and defense of its interests during his tenure. During a closed-door consultative meeting prior to the official session in Amman, Sahyoun urged Arab nations to support Lebanon in its efforts to decouple negotiations concerning Lebanon from the broader US-Iran talks. He reiterated that Lebanon should actively participate in shaping the region’s future, rather than passively receiving decisions made about it without its involvement.
