François Picard is pleased to welcome Bilal Saab, Senior Managing Director of the Trends Research Group and a close friend of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
Mr. Saab offers a cautiously optimistic assessment of a pivotal moment in Lebanese diplomacy, arguing that President Aoun's visit to Washington represents an important opportunity to consolidate international backing for Lebanon's sovereignty and state institutions.
While acknowledging the formidable structural challenges posed by Hezbollah, regional tensions, and extremely complex Israeli-Lebanese security challenges, Mr. Saab contends that success will not come from military coercion, but rather a focus on the gradual strengthening of the Lebanese state.
According to Mr. Saab, Lebanon is both a testing ground for American regional diplomacy and a fragile experiment in state-building that will require sustained political support and not symbolic declarations.
#JosephAoun #DonaldTrump #Lebanon
🔔 Subscribe to France 24 now: https://f24.my/YTen
🔴 LIVE - Watch FRANCE 24 English 24/7 here: https://f24.my/YTliveEN
🌍 Read the latest International News and Top Stories: https://www.france24.com/en/
Like us on Facebook: https://f24.my/FBen
Follow us on X: https://f24.my/Xen
Bluesky: https://f24.my/BSen and Threads: https://f24.my/THen
Browse the news in pictures on Instagram: https://f24.my/IGen
Discover our TikTok videos: https://f24.my/TKen
Get the latest top stories on Telegram: https://f24.my/TGen