Lebanese President Michel Suleiman visited Saudi Arabia on Nov. 12. The visit did not bring along with it any great surprises such as the declaration of a new Lebanese government — as some had expected or hoped — eight months after the resignation of Najib Mikati’s government.
The visit did, however, shed light on matters of great importance, including Saudi Arabia’s increasing role in the region against the backdrop of the deep geopolitical transitions, especially with the dwindling US role and the rise of the Sunni-Shiite conflict. The visit also focused on bilateral Saudi-Lebanese relations that tackle today highly important issues for this small country that has been weighed down by its internal conflicts as well as the repercussions of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon’s security, economy and even — it may seem — on its very continuity.
