Macron heads to Lebanon for first time since 2020 to speed up formation of government, reforms

French President Emmanuel Macron will travel to Lebanon today for the first time since 2020 to help speed up the formation of a government that can quickly implement reforms and open the door to reconstruction.

Since a truce brokered by France and the United States in November between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group, Paris has played a key role in helping break Lebanon’s political deadlock, along with its American and Saudi counterparts, that has now led to a new president and prime minister.

“In three months, we have helped Lebanon move from escalation to recovery, and to open a new page of hope,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who will be in Lebanon with Macron, says in parliament during a debate on France’s Middle East policy.

“With popular support, a broad internal consensus and international backing, the new Lebanese executive can act decisively to restore state sovereignty and rebuild Lebanon.”

A French presidency source briefing reporters ahead of the trip says the objective is to underscore the importance of Lebanon’s sovereignty, help it towards implementing structural economic reforms that would restore international confidence and ensure a united government able to push change.