Macron meets Tom Barrack as France seeks larger role in Lebanon
As Israel and Lebanon move toward a ceasefire agreement, France is seeking to play a role through two initiatives: strengthening the Lebanese army and establishing a new international force.
PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron and his special envoy for Lebanon, Jean-Yves Le Drian, met Tuesday in Paris with US Ambassador and Special Envoy Tom Barrack, the Élysée Palace confirmed to Al-Monitor, noting that the three discussed, among other issues, Lebanon's territorial integrity.
In his meeting with Barrack, the French president "reaffirmed his country's support for the territorial integrity of Syria, Iraq and Lebanon," highlighting "the efforts of the Lebanese and Iraqi authorities to reinforce their countries' sovereignty and the control of weapons" a French official told Al-Monitor.
The meeting highlighted France's efforts to play a central role in securing the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire deal by strengthening the Lebanese army and establishing an international force in Lebanon, senior French officials told Al-Monitor. They added that France is leading the initiative for an international force within the European Union. The French initiative is likely to be discussed at the upcoming June 15 monthly EU foreign affairs ministerial meeting, set to take place in Luxembourg.
Paris did not take part in the four rounds of direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon that took place in Washington. Nevertheless, French officials contend that only France — with Saudi Arabia's financial backing — can successfully oversee the rebuilding of Lebanon's military and support efforts to disarm Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
