Russia, Lebanon seek synergy in projects to rebuild Syria
Moscow and Beirut each see potential benefits in working together to secure lucrative reconstruction contracts in Syria.
When Lebanese President Michel Aoun paid an official visit March 26 to Moscow, some observers thought it indicated Lebanon’s “shift into Russia’s orbit.” The speculation progressed a month later, when a high-ranking Lebanese delegation visited Arabia-Expo 2019 in Moscow. The delegation was led by freshly appointed Minister of Telecommunications Mohammed Choucair, who also heads Lebanon's economic organizations.
It seemed that, in addition to the Syrian refugee issue — on which Russia and Lebanon have worked together for some time — Beirut was interested in gaining economic dividends from Russia's influence in Syria.
