Saudi Arabia’s top diplomat is expected to meet Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam and Lebanon’s president [Getty]
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan is set to visit Lebanon on Thursday for a one-day trip, where he will meet the country’s new president, Joseph Aoun, whom he will invite to visit Riyadh, according to local media.
The top diplomat is also expected to meet influential Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam, local media reports said.
The Saudi minister will announce the beginning of a new phase in Saudi-Lebanese relations and the end of a period of “cold ties” between the two countries, French language daily L’Orient-Le Jour reported, citing sources.
Thursday’s visit signals Riyadh’s support for Aoun, who secured the presidency with backing from both the US and Saudi Arabia, following the weakening of Iran-backed Hezbollah’s influence after its recent war with Israel – which claimed the lives of many of its leaders, including former secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah – and the collapse of a key ally, Bashar al-Assad’s Syria.
It marks the first visit by a high-ranking Saudi official to Lebanon since 2015, following years of strained diplomatic relations driven by several factors, including Lebanon’s perceived alignment with Iranian interests, its involvement in drug smuggling to the Gulf, and ongoing security and economic instability.
As part of this renewed engagement, President Aoun’s upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia – his first official foreign trip – will see the signing of 22 bilateral agreements covering the economy, finance, agriculture, and security sectors.
These agreements, which have been on hold since 2017 due to diplomatic tensions, are set to be revived alongside the anticipated lifting of Saudi Arabia’s long-standing travel ban on its nationals visiting Lebanon.
According to L’Orient-Le Jour, Saudi Arabia is reportedly working with Qatar and Kuwait, to establish a joint fund to support Lebanon.
It comes after the Saudi investment firm, Kingdom Holding Company (KHC), owned by owned by Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, announced last week that Beirut’s iconic Four Seasons Hotel would reopen in early 2026, marking “a new era for Lebanon under the leadership of President Aoun”.
After his election, Aoun vowed to usher in “a new era” in Lebanon’s history during his inaugural address to parliament, pledging to pursue a policy of “positive neutrality” while fostering strong relations with Arab nations.
