French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Lebanon on Friday, as announced by both countries on Tuesday.
France is one of Lebanon's key supporters and has been among five countries working since last year to push for the election of a president in Lebanon. Alongside the United States, France oversees the implementation of a ceasefire agreement that ended a destructive confrontation between Hezbollah and Israel late last year.
The Lebanese presidency stated in a communiqué that President Michel Aoun discussed with French Ambassador Hervé Magro the "arrangements for the visit that French President Emmanuel Macron plans to make to Lebanon next Friday."
Later, the Élysée confirmed the visit, indicating in a statement that Macron will renew his call for the formation of a "strong government as soon as possible, capable of uniting Lebanon in all its diversity to implement the necessary reforms for the country's recovery."
According to Paris, the visit reflects "France's ongoing commitment to Lebanon's stability, unity, and development."
The visit will also provide an "opportunity to work on the full implementation of the ceasefire," which was announced on November 26 between Hezbollah and Israel under the sponsorship of U.S. President Joe Biden and Macron. The Élysée noted that the visit would also reaffirm "France's commitment to this goal within the UNIFIL framework and through a monitoring mechanism."
Under the agreement, a monitoring mechanism was established, involving France, the United States, Lebanon, Israel, and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), to oversee the agreement's implementation and track any violations.
Macron wished President Aoun "every success" following his election, as announced by the Élysée Palace.
On Monday, Macron welcomed the appointment of Nawaf Salam, President of the International Court of Justice, to form a new Lebanese government. He expressed optimism on Platform X (formerly Twitter), stating, "The hope for change is growing," and wished Salam success in forming a government that serves all segments of the Lebanese people.
The Élysée Palace remarked, "This is the appointment of a figure known for integrity and qualifications, someone who has expressed a willingness to undertake reforms demanded by the Lebanese people and the international community to enable Lebanon to reclaim its sovereignty and implement the necessary economic recovery measures."
Macron emphasized the importance of forming a "strong and inclusive government that reflects Lebanon's diverse population."
The French president visited Lebanon twice following the massive explosion at the Port of Beirut in August 2020, which devastated large parts of the capital, killing over 220 people and injuring thousands.
Both visits were part of Macron's efforts to help Lebanon emerge from the political and economic crises it has faced since 2019. France has organized multiple conferences to support Lebanon and has repeatedly urged it to implement urgent reforms as a precondition for economic recovery and international support.
