Saudi Arabia invites Lebanon’s new president to visit
Michel Aoun said ready to make trip to Riyadh once his cabinet is formed
BEIRUT — Saudi Arabia has invited the newly elected Lebanese president to visit the oil-rich kingdom.
Saudi Prince Khaled al-Faisal told reporters Monday after meeting President Michel Aoun at Baabda Palace near Beirut that the president has accepted the invitation and agreed to visit after a new cabinet is formed in Lebanon.
The president said in a statement that he is eager to strengthen ties with Riyadh.
Aoun was elected last month after a 29-month vacuum in the country’s top post.
Lebanon’s political factions are deeply divided, with some, like Aoun’s Christian party and the Hezbollah militant group, aligning with Iran and their opponents siding with Saudi Arabia.
The deal struck between the opposing blocs in parliament in October to make Aoun Lebanon’s head of state also saw Saad Hariri named prime minister, after the Sunni politician made an about face and threw his lot in with Aoun.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was the first foreign minister to meet Aoun after he took office, followed by a Syrian envoy.
In February, Saudi Arabia halted a $3 billion arms deal with Lebanon, a decision linked to the kingdom’s tensions with Iran. Iran and Hezbollah support Syrian President Bashar Assad, while Saudi Arabia backs the rebels trying to topple him.