Macron, Aoun, and King Abdullah II to Lead New Round of the Aqaba Track Initiative to Support the Lebanese Army and Security Forces

Capitals – Mansour Shaaban and Agencies: French President Emmanuel Macron received Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Jordanian King Abdullah II yesterday for a trilateral summit ahead of chairing the new round of the international “Aqaba Track” meetings aimed at supporting the Lebanese Army and internal security forces. The meeting was attended by senior military officials from their respective countries and several participating nations, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Pakistan, and the European Union.

The Élysée Palace stated that the objective of the meeting is to examine a “deployment plan” for the Lebanese forces based on a “clear, credible, and realistic plan.”

The French presidency sought to clarify the “context of the operation, the criteria, and the mechanisms of this action,” as a prerequisite for the army to receive “very strong and operational” support from the international community, whether in the form of financial aid, equipment, or training.

A statement from the Lebanese presidency said that the three leaders focused on “mechanisms to enhance cooperation and coordination in areas of mutual interest.” The discussions also addressed the importance of France hosting the new round of the “Aqaba Meetings” initiative, which explores ways to support the Lebanese Army to enable it to fulfill its mandate in maintaining the security and safety of Lebanese citizens, in coordination with the Internal Security Forces.

The meeting addressed the serious regional escalation, with the three leaders affirming “the necessity of intensifying international efforts to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable de-escalation that restores stability to the region.” They also discussed the overall developments in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem.

The Lebanese presidency reported that President Aoun thanked the King of Jordan for Jordan’s role through the Aqaba Track in bringing together partners and enhancing coordination to support Lebanon’s security, stability, and legitimate institutions.

He also expressed gratitude, on behalf of all Lebanese, to President Macron and France for hosting this meeting and for their constant support of Lebanon.

According to the Jordanian news agency “Petra,” the round focused on ways to support the Lebanese Army and strengthen its capabilities to maintain Lebanon’s security and sovereignty, and to ensure that weapons are held exclusively by the state.

The King affirmed “Jordan’s standing with its Lebanese brothers and its commitment to providing the necessary support to maintain the stability of their country and its resources.”

The meetings discussed the priorities of the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Internal Security Forces, as well as the operational challenges they face. They also examined mechanisms for international support to the Lebanese Army in line with the stated needs.

Prior to the meeting, Macron received his Lebanese counterpart at the Élysée Palace, where official ceremonies were held.

The two presidents discussed the situation in Lebanon in light of recent developments, amid ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanese villages and towns, and the efforts being made to put an end to these attacks in the context of Lebanese-American-Israeli negotiations and the framework agreement signed during them.

President Aoun explained the developments in the south and the post-UNIFIL phase. The discussions also covered progress made in formulating proposals in the Security Council regarding the future of the international presence in the south, in line with the diplomatic track and to prevent a vacuum after the end of UNIFIL’s mandate.

In southern Lebanon, the situation remains one of sustained tension, fluctuating in intensity. Israeli forces continued to demolish homes in the town of Al-Mansouri, while drones flew over Beirut, the southern suburbs, and Hermel.