Lebanese officials hold meetings with quintet countries in preparation for the upcoming March 5 conference in Paris, aiming to increase support for the Lebanese Armed Forces.
The conference, jointly led by France and Saudi Arabia, was planned to increase financial and logistical support to the LAF and internal security forces to strengthen state authority and bolster its internal security capabilities as the country charts a path forward from the 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
As efforts to increase Lebanese state sovereignty throughout its territory are underway, this conference is occurring in the backdrop of a broad demand that many donor countries have: that investment is predicated on a state monopoly on arms, according to a Lebanese official.
On Wednesday, head of the LAF Rodolphe Haykal met with quintet country ambassadors in Lebanon as part of a series of preparatory meetings for the upcoming March 5 conference in Paris. Advanced coordination with these officials serves to establish a clear agenda for the conference and approach it from a unified position in order to increase the conference’s success
Those present at this meeting included U.S. ambassador Michel Issa, Saudi ambassador Walid al-Bukhari, French ambassador Hervé Magro, Qatari ambassador Saud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, and Egyptian ambassador Alaa Moussa. Another gathering to continue preparations will occur in Egypt on February 24, according to LCBI.
Earlier on Wednesday, President Joseph Aoun met with Amélia Lakrafi, a member of the French National Assembly, they discussed Lebanese-French relations ahead of the Paris conference. The two discussed Lebanon’s security situation and domestic reforms efforts to banking and the fiscal sectors.
On Monday, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met with French envoy to Lebanon Jacques de La Guégue and ambassador Magro to address the topics of economic reform as the country moves closer to meeting the requirements for an IMF package. This reform aims to help Lebanon recover from its crippling 2019 economic crisis, from which the country has yet to fully recover.
Aoun has also been in regular contact with Lebanon’s U.S. ambassador Nada Hamadeh to coordinate positions on approaching beneficial Lebanese-U.S. relations, according to Annahar. The U.S. has a key role in Lebanon’s path forward, providing aid to the LAF and putting pressure on individuals that may obstruct the 2026 Lebanese parliamentary elections and on Hezbollah institutions and cashflow.
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