Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun visited Saudi Arabia, meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, marking the first official visit in six years. This trip aims to restore trade ties, reactivate a $3 billion military aid package for Lebanon, and emphasize Lebanon’s appreciation for Saudi support. Aoun’s election followed a prolonged power vacuum, highlighting shifts in regional dynamics and relationships.
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun embarked on a significant visit to Saudi Arabia, becoming the first Lebanese head of state to visit Riyadh in six years. His meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman marks an important step towards revitalizing relations between the two nations. The visit aims to restore trade ties and bolster reconstruction efforts in Lebanon while reactivating a $3 billion military assistance package for the Lebanese army.
During his visit, President Aoun emphasized the strength of Lebanese-Saudi relations and expressed gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s support in ensuring Lebanon’s stability and functioning constitutional institutions. Aoun described the visit as an opportunity to strengthen ties further, especially after recent diplomatic engagements from Saudi officials to Lebanon.
Aoun, who assumed office after a prolonged power vacuum that lasted more than two years, is perceived as aligned with Saudi Arabia and the U.S. His election followed the decline of Hezbollah’s influence during the Israel-Hizballah conflict, providing a potential opening for improved bilateral relations.
As Lebanon and Saudi Arabia work towards thawing their historically strained relations, Lebanon seeks to eliminate travel bans imposed by Saudi Arabia, restore trade, and facilitate the reconstruction of areas devastated by conflicts. Notably, the Saudi suspension of a $3 billion military aid package in 2016 was attributed to Hezbollah’s political clout.
The President chose to visit Saudi Arabia first due to its longstanding historical ties with Lebanon and its influential role regionally and globally. He expressed optimism that Saudi Arabia would assist in re-establishing relations that benefit both countries and help navigate any recent challenges.
President Joseph Aoun’s visit to Saudi Arabia signifies a critical juncture in Lebanese-Saudi relations, aiming to revitalize trade, military assistance, and reconstruction efforts. By strengthening diplomatic ties and expressing gratitude for Saudi support, Aoun hopes to reset relations that have been strained in recent years. This visit also reflects Lebanon’s strategic objectives following a recent political shift in leadership.
Original Source: economymiddleeast.com
