Lebanese FM, Syrian interim FM discuss bilateral ties at Arab summit
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The meeting between the Lebanese and Syrian Foreign Ministers took place on the sidelines of the emergency Arab League summit, held amid ongoing regional instability.
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A logo in Arabic reads: "emergency Arab Summit Palestine summit" at the press center hall in Egypt's New Administrative Capital, outside Cairo, Tuesday, March 4, 2025 (AP)
Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji met with Syrian caretaker Foreign Minister Asaad Shaibani in Cairo this week to discuss the future of Lebanese-Syrian relations, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday.
"The minister of foreign affairs and emigrants, Youssef Rajji, held a series of meetings with several Arab foreign ministers, including the minister of foreign affairs at the interim Syrian government, Asaad Shaibani," the ministry stated on X.
"They decided to hold an extended meeting in the near future to discuss bilateral issues, most notably the issue of Lebanese missing in Syria."
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the emergency Arab League summit, held amid ongoing regional instability.
Syria has undergone significant political changes in recent months following a large-scale offensive by armed opposition groups against the Syrian army in late November. The opposition forces captured Damascus on December 8, leading to the resignation and departure of former President Bashar Assad. In January, Ahmed Sharaa was declared transitional president of Syria.
Lebanon has maintained diplomatic contact with the new Syrian administration. In late December, former Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib called Shaibani to affirm Lebanon’s support for the transitional government.
Both sides expressed the need to hold a bilateral meeting in early 2025 to address shared concerns and strengthen ties.
Lebanese president heads to Arab Summit
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun traveled to Saudi Arabia on Monday for his first official trip abroad since assuming office earlier this year, the presidency announced.
Aoun was elected on January 9, bringing an end to a political deadlock that had left the presidency vacant for over two years amid Lebanon's severe economic and political turmoil.
"President Joseph Aoun left Rafic Hariri International Airport for Riyadh," accompanied by Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji, the presidency said in a statement.
It is worth noting that relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia have been tense for years. In 2016, Riyadh suspended $3 billion in military aid to the Lebanese army.
"During my visit, I will seek, if possible, to reactivate military aid," Aoun told Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat in an interview on Friday.
