French President Macron Commits to Supporting Lebanese Military

Synopsis

During his visit to Lebanon on January 17, French President Emmanuel Macron announced France’s commitment to assist the Lebanese army by establishing a training center for 500 soldiers. He emphasized support for Lebanon's sovereignty and efforts to restore international confidence in the nation.

Key Takeaways

Macron reaffirms support for the Lebanese army.
New training center for 500 soldiers to be established.
Focus on Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial control.
International community mobilization for Lebanon's assistance.
Concern for cultural heritage in Gaza and Lebanon.

Beirut, Jan 17 (NationPress) French President Emmanuel Macron visited Lebanon on Friday and reaffirmed France's dedication to assisting the Lebanese army. He announced the creation of a new training center for Lebanese troops."France will establish a new center to train 500 Lebanese soldiers," Macron stated during a joint press conference at Baabda Palace with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

Macron emphasized France's backing of Lebanon's sovereignty and the efforts of its leadership to maintain full control over the nation’s territory.

He expressed France's hope for the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and for all arms to be under the exclusive authority of the Lebanese army, as reported by Xinhua.

"We will work to rally the international community to support Lebanon in various domains," Macron further commented.

In response, Aoun remarked, "The world's confidence in Lebanon must also be fully restored because the true and authentic Lebanon has returned."

Macron's official visit to Beirut included a meeting with Prime Minister Najib Mikati to discuss potential support initiatives for Lebanon.

Mikati mentioned that Macron showed a willingness to assist Lebanon through a trust fund that the Lebanese government intends to set up in collaboration with the World Bank to facilitate the reconstruction of southern Lebanon.

Last November, France supported the International Criminal Court (ICC) in issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif.

French foreign ministry spokesperson Christophe Lemoine stated that the Court serves as a "guarantee of international stability" and that its orders should be enforced "in all situations."

"The fight against impunity is our priority," Lemoine told the media, adding that France remains committed to supporting the ICC's actions.

He also noted that as the host nation of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), France is deeply concerned about the cultural heritage sites in Gaza and Lebanon, which have been devastated during the conflicts with Israel.