ALBAWABA- Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, visited Beirut on Thursday, marking the first high-level Saudi visit to Lebanon in over a decade.
The visit reflects Riyadh's effort to rebuild relations following Lebanon’s election of a new president and a broader regional strategy to assert influence as Iran’s dominance wanes.
The trip follows Lebanon’s election of army commander Joseph Aoun as president earlier this month, ending over two years of political deadlock.
Aoun, seen as the preferred candidate of Riyadh and Western powers, was elected with promises of postwar reconstruction funds from Saudi Arabia and its allies, contingent on reforms.
Prince Faisal praised the election as “extremely positive” during the World Economic Forum in Davos but emphasized the need for Lebanon’s leadership to deliver on reforms.
“We will need to see real action. Lebanon must look to the future, not the past, for us to deepen our engagement,” Prince Faisal stated.
This visit comes as Saudi Arabia seeks to reassert itself as a key political player in the Levant. Relations between Riyadh and Beirut were strained for years due to the growing influence of Hizbollah, the Iranian-backed Shia militant group that dominated Lebanon's political and military landscape.
Hizbollah’s position has weakened significantly after a 15-month conflict with Israel, which killed its leader Hassan Nasrallah and several key commanders.
This shift has opened opportunities for Riyadh to re-engage with Lebanon and influence its political future. Talks are underway to form a new government, with Joseph Aoun appointing Nawaf Salam, president of the International Court of Justice, as prime minister.
Riyadh is also moving to reset ties with Syria, as evidenced by the visit of Syrian caretaker Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani to Saudi Arabia earlier this month.
Saudi Arabia’s renewed involvement recalls its historical role in shaping Lebanon's political landscape, including hosting the 1989 Taif Agreement, which ended Lebanon's 15-year civil war.
