Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan visited Lebanon, where he was hosted by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at Baabda Palace in Beirut. This marks the first visit by a senior Saudi official to Lebanon in over 15 years.
During their meeting, Prince Faisal and President Joseph Aoun discussed the latest developments in Lebanon and the region. The Saudi Foreign Minister reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s ongoing support for Lebanon and its people. He conveyed greetings from King Salman, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, wishing President Aoun, the government, and the Lebanese people further prosperity and development.
The meeting was attended by Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari, Assistant Director General of the Minister’s Office Walid Al-Samaeel, and Prince Yazid bin Mohammed bin Fahd Al-Farhan, the Foreign Minister’s advisor on Lebanese Affairs.
In a subsequent press briefing, Prince Faisal reiterated Saudi Arabia’s commitment to Lebanon, stressing the importance of reforms in boosting international trust in the country.
He also discussed the significance of adhering to the ceasefire agreement, expressing confidence in President Joseph Aoun and his prime minister’s ability to restore stability in Lebanon.
“We trust their ability to stabilise the country,” he said.
President Aoun welcomed the visit, interpreting it as a sign of hope and expressing his gratitude to Saudi Arabia for its support, particularly in helping to fill the gap left by the presidential void. He also expressed his hope that Saudi Arabia would send more visits to Lebanon in the future.
Aoun noted that five nations, including Saudi Arabia, played a crucial role in resolving Lebanon’s presidential crisis and supporting his election as president.