Lebanon has reaffirmed its determination to strengthen ties with Gulf states and fully restore national sovereignty, Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi said in an interview published Monday by the Emirati daily Al-Ittihad.
He highlighted the government’s recent decision to grant the state exclusive control over weapons, describing it as a “historic step” long overdue since the Taif Agreement 35 years ago.
He described the move as the foundation for building a state of law and sovereignty that exclusively holds the power to decide on war and peace, noting that “the Lebanese have waited too long for the state to reassert its full authority.”
In his interview with Al-Ittihad, Raggi reiterated that the international community has tied any financial support for Lebanon to two key conditions: implementing economic reforms to combat corruption and waste, and ensuring that weapons are solely in the hands of the state. “No funds or investments will flow into the country before these conditions are met,” he emphasized.
On border disputes, Raggi said that Lebanon’s boundaries with Israel – set since the 1948 truce – must be reinforced through indirect negotiations under UN or US mediation. He pointed to Israel’s withdrawal from five disputed points in the south and the release of Lebanese prisoners as prerequisites for progress. Regarding the Syrian border, he described the issue as “technical,” requiring bilateral committees and the involvement of Syria’s new administration.
He also criticized past Lebanese governments for damaging relations with Arab states due to their alignment with certain internal factions that adopted hostile positions. He said the current government has restored balance, but stressed that Arab investment in Lebanon depends both on political stability and on legal and judicial guarantees to protect investors’ capital.
He also stated that the government’s greatest challenge is to prove its ability to impose the rule of law across all Lebanese territory.
Achieving this, he said, would mark a turning point in Lebanon’s future and contribute not only to domestic stability but also to regional security.
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