Lebanese president hopes to mend ties with Saudi Arabia in first visit in years
Associated Press5 days ago
Saudi Arabia and Lebanon Signal Major Diplomatic Reset
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Above: Lebanese Pres. Joseph Aoun meets with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the Al Yamamah Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on March 3, 2025. Image copyright: Lebanese Presidency/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Facts
Saudi Arabia has agreed to review the "obstacles" to reinstating Lebanese imports, which were suspended in April 2021 due to drug smuggling concerns. Saudi Arabia was previously Lebanon's top agricultural export destination, accounting for 22.1% in 2019.
This came during Lebanese Pres. Joseph Aoun's first visit to Saudi Arabia since taking office in January, meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, the first visit by a Lebanese head of state to the kingdom in eight years.
The kingdom will reportedly also consider lifting travel restrictions on Saudi citizens visiting Lebanon, which have been in place since 2021 due to strained diplomatic relations.
The Spin
Narrative A
This meeting shows that Saudi Arabia's diplomatic leadership is flourishing, signaling a new era of Arab unity. During just one visit, the kingdom yielded 22 cooperative agreements and offered Lebanon hope for economic revival and stability. Lebanon is clearly willing to make changes in the hopes of joining and benefitting from Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 initiative. It's now time for Israel to retreat its troops and let the Arab states prosper on their own.
Narrative B
This is undoubtedly good news for Lebanon and its neighbors, but Beirut must make security and economic promises clear before any deal can be made. The Saudis helped mediate a deal after the 2006 Hezbollah-Israel war, after which the terror group became more powerful. If Lebanon can assure the world that Hezbollah has no future in its country, coupled with some financial reforms, the proposals made in this meeting could come to fruition.
Narrative C
Lebanon isn't the only government that should be questioned here. While Saudi Arabia does appear to be shifting its image from violent authoritarianism to a global peacemaker, the Crown Prince still has a stained track record. From the arrests and assassinations of journalists to cozying up to Russia, the world must be cautious before welcoming the kingdom as a diplomatic leader.
