French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have pledged “full support” for the formation of a “strong government” in Lebanon, the Élysée Palace announced on Thursday, following a phone call between the two leaders.
During the call on Wednesday, they stated that they would “fully support the consultations led by Lebanon’s new authorities to appoint a strong government capable of uniting the country’s diverse population, ensuring adherence to the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, and implementing necessary reforms for the prosperity, stability and sovereignty of the country,” the Élysée added.
The election of President Joseph Aoun and the nomination of Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam mark a “new era for Lebanon” and send a “strong signal for the international community to reengage,” the leaders emphasized, according to the statement.
Macron and Bin Salman also expressed “full support for the Lebanese Armed Forces” to enforce the ceasefire with Israel in southern Lebanon. They discussed the next steps, including initiatives to support reconstruction efforts.
The French president, who has been deeply involved in seeking solutions to Lebanon’s political, economic and financial crises, will meet with the new officials in Beirut on Friday.
Saudi Arabia had significantly reduced its support for Lebanon in recent years due to the growing influence of Hezbollah within the country.
However, the Iran-backed group has been significantly weakened by its military confrontation with Israel and the fall of its ally Bashar al-Assad in Syria. This shift paved the way for Lebanon's presidential election on January 9, which ended over two years of deadlock.
With AFP
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