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France’s focus on Lebanon is closely aligned with that of its American and Saudi partners. French envoys in Beirut highlight active coordination with Washington and Riyadh on a range of critical issues, most notably the military situation in the south, Hezbollah’s disarmament, financial reforms—particularly the proposed fiscal gap law—and the demarcation of the Lebanon-Syria border.
Regarding the military situation in the south and Hezbollah’s disarmament, the French have no guarantee that Israel will refrain from intensifying strikes on Lebanese territory. They are also concerned about Hezbollah’s stance, repeatedly stressing to the group’s officials that the ceasefire agreement mandates the centralization of all weapons in Lebanon, with the process beginning south of the Litani River.
In addition, the French do not oppose negotiations between Lebanon and Israel but refrain from delving into the details, instead awaiting Israel’s response to Lebanon’s proposal to accept talks in principle as a basis for discussion. They place significant emphasis on the Mechanism’s committee and see no disagreement with the Americans over its operation.
At the same time, they regard the Lebanese army as making substantial progress toward completing the first phase of centralizing weapons in the south of the Litani River by year’s end. They would, however, like the army to publicly outline its activities in this context. French envoys also stressed the upcoming conference to support the army, noting that while the commitment is firm, the date and location have yet to be finalized.
As for Lebanese-Syrian relations, France considers that, in coordination with the Americans and Saudis, it can secure a breakthrough in delineating the land border between Lebanon and Syria. The matter falls under the mandate of U.S. envoy Tom Barrack and is also part of Saudi efforts to strengthen ties between Damascus and Beirut. The Saudis have reportedly raised the issue in meetings with both parties.
Furthermore, France sees success in this step as essential for reinforcing Lebanese-Syrian relations and enhancing security along the border. Having provided Lebanon with historical documents related to the border with Syria, France positions itself as a central facilitator in the border delineation negotiations and in securing a final agreement.
Finally, the French are closely monitoring the upcoming parliamentary elections and the ongoing debate over the election law, particularly the provisions concerning the expatriate vote. Their message is clear: they want the elections to proceed on schedule.
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