US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to speak with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun ahead of Aoun's planned visit to Washington in July, where he is also expected to meet President Trump, according to regional reports. The Lebanese side is said to be unsettled by Trump publicly linking Lebanon to Iran, contrary to Beirut's stated objectives.
A phone call between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is expected in the coming days, ahead of Aoun's planned visit to Washington in July. According to the Lebanese side, Aoun will also meet with President Donald Trump during the visit.
The Lebanese political establishment is reported to be taken aback by President Trump's public linkage of Lebanon to Iran in recent statements, which contradicts Beirut's efforts to assert its independence from Tehran. This diplomatic scheduling comes against the backdrop of complex US-led regional diplomacy, including ongoing negotiations with Iran and pressure on Israel over military operations in Lebanon.
As The Zioneer has reported, Trump has recently called for a 'softer touch' toward Hezbollah and publicly suggested Syria could handle the group. The Rubio-Aoun call signals continued American engagement with Beirut, but the widening gap between Washington's framing of Lebanon and the Lebanese government's own messaging appears to be a source of tension.
3 developments
- DevelopingUS State Department says Rubio, Aoun discussed trilateral framework implementation, Hezbollah disarmament
- DevelopingRubio spoke to Netanyahu and Lebanon's Aoun overnight to resolve final differences
- DevelopingLebanese source: Aoun, Rubio agree on full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon
- DevelopingLebanese President Aoun speaks with US VP Vance, Kushner, and Qatar PM on ceasefire
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