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As Lebanon prepares to continue U.S.-mediated talks with Israel later this week, a potential trip by President Joseph Aoun to Washington is increasingly being viewed in Beirut as a rare opportunity that cannot be missed.
“President Aoun should absolutely go to Washington,” Lebanese Forces MP Ghayyath Yazbeck told This is Beirut. “He represents more than 80 percent of the Lebanese people and has the legitimacy and duty to negotiate in Lebanon’s name.”
While the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon on April 30 urged President Joseph Aoun to visit the White House for a trilateral meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Aoun said such a meeting would be premature. Instead, he said on May 4 that Lebanon and Israel should first reach a security agreement.
Meanwhile, Lebanon has raised its level of representation for talks with Israel in Washington scheduled for Thursday and Friday by including President Joseph Aoun’s envoy, Simon Karam. “These talks aim to break decisively from the failed approach of the past two decades,” the U.S. State Department said.
Rare and Important Window
Political and military analyst Riad Kahwaji described the U.S.-mediated talks as a “rare and extremely important opportunity” for Beirut to restore state sovereignty and secure international support.
“The only party in the world capable of exerting real influence on Israel to stop the war is the United States, especially [U.S. President] Donald Trump,” Kahwaji said in an interview with This is Beirut.
“Trump’s willingness to give Lebanon time to address its internal issues is an opportunity that should not be wasted or taken lightly,” he added.
Yazbeck echoed this view, describing the current diplomatic initiative as a historic opportunity for Lebanon to break free from Iran’s influence exerted through Hezbollah.
“Such occasions have happened three times in Lebanon: in 1982 when the PLO left, in 2005 when the Syrians withdrew, and now with the possibility of ending Iran’s influence,” Yazbeck told This is Beirut.
Kahwaji said the ongoing negotiations could strengthen the Lebanese state in its long-standing efforts to reclaim authority from Hezbollah, which he described as the dominant force despite the state’s formal authority.
“These talks will empower the state and bring more force and support to help it fulfill its mission,” he said. “The question is whether President Aoun is willing to go all the way.”
Confronting Hezbollah
As U.S.-mediated direct talks between Beirut and Tel Aviv have progressed since early April, Hezbollah has repeatedly criticized Lebanese state leaders, including President Joseph Aoun, over the negotiations.
Aoun issued a sharp rebuke to Hezbollah on April 27. “What I am doing is not treason,” he said, defending his support for the talks.
“Rather, treason is committed by those who take their country to war to serve foreign interests,” Aoun added, in reference to Hezbollah opening a front against Israel in support of Tehran on March 2.
The key challenge facing the Lebanese state and its president, according to Kahwaji, is how to translate its decisions and rhetoric on Hezbollah into tangible action.
“What if Hezbollah rebels against the state and tries to use force?” he asked. “Is Aoun willing and ready to respond?”
The Lebanese government is caught between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, and lacks the means to fully enforce sovereign decisions, according to Yazbeck. He said the state must either gradually assert authority over Hezbollah-controlled areas and seek stronger international backing.
“Aoun should go to Washington with cards in his hands and be determined to tighten the noose around Hezbollah,” Yazbeck said. “Otherwise, no country in the world will take Lebanon seriously.”
Despite rising political tensions and threats from figures aligned with Hezbollah, Yazbeck dismissed speculation that Aoun could face repercussions if he travels to Washington.
“This falls within the framework of political intimidation,” Yazbeck said.
Kahwaji argued that Hezbollah is facing mounting pressure from within Lebanon's Shia community. He said the community has become increasingly fatigued by conflict and economic hardship.
Kahwaji suggested that a negotiated settlement with Israel could isolate Hezbollah politically if endorsed by Lebanon’s government and parliament. At the same time, he stressed that Washington must continue pressing Israel to avoid expanding its military operations deeper into Lebanon.
As Lebanon and Israel press forward with diplomatic engagement, and Hezbollah continues to challenge a fragile ceasefire, President Joseph Aoun faces a delicate moment. “The time for hesitation is over,” the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon said in its call for Aoun to meet Netanyahu in Washington.
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