WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump welcomed Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to the White House on July 21 to discuss ways to implement the Trilateral Framework, the U.S.-backed deal between Lebanon and Israel that was recently signed.
This marks Aoun’s first in-person meeting with Trump. At the start of the meeting, Trump said he has a good relationship with Aoun and described Lebanon as a country mistreated for a long time.
“We’re going to have it properly treated and treated with the respect that it deserves,” Trump said.
Both leaders said they would address the new deal signed on June 26 that aims to expand Lebanese military control in the country’s south, reduce Hezbollah’s presence, and enable a phased Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.
The initiative seeks to give full security control to the Lebanese military and police, bringing an end to Hezbollah’s long-standing role as an independent armed group.
Before the meeting, a White House official told reporters that the visit aims to advance implementation of the framework agreement, reaffirming America’s commitment to “backing the Government of Lebanon’s efforts to deliver peace, economic recovery, and a better future for the Lebanese people.”
Lebanon is also looking for international help to rebuild after Israeli strikes left parts of the south in ruins. The United States is seen as a crucial player in rallying donor support.
Aoun arrived in Washington over the weekend and first met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on July 19.
“The future of Lebanon, the best thing that could happen to Lebanon, is to have a government, a legitimate government, his government, that controls the country,” Rubio said following the meeting.
He stated that Hezbollah remains Lebanon’s greatest obstacle to lasting peace, noting the country would “never fully be at peace” as long as the Iran-backed group retains its armed force.
Rubio added that Washington seeks to increase investment in Lebanon and explore restoring direct commercial flights between the two countries.
On July 20, the U.S. State Department announced that Israel will withdraw from three “pilot zone” villages in southern Lebanon as part of the framework agreement.
“Today, pilot zone operations began in the villages of Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar Al-Gharbiya in accordance with the Trilateral Framework and under the auspices of the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon,” State Department spokesman Thomas Pigott said in a statement.
The announcement followed ambassador-level talks between Lebanon and Israel at the U.S. Embassy in Rome last week.
