Aoun welcomes European Support Mission: International trust in the Lebanese Army and reinforcement of stability

Republic President General Joseph Aoun praised the European Union foreign ministers’ decision to establish a new support mission in Lebanon, which will provide advice and assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces for three years. In a statement issued from Baabda Palace, he said: “Lebanon welcomes the EU’s decision to create a new mission to support Lebanese security and military institutions. This decision reflects a steadfast European commitment to Lebanon’s security and stability, and confidence in the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces as the legitimate authorities entrusted with protecting the country and its citizens, alongside other legitimate security forces.”

He added: “This mission, through the expertise, training, and advice it provides, will contribute to strengthening the capacities of our legitimate institutions, and to extending state authority over all its territory and securing its borders, in line with the decisions of the Lebanese government and its official stance on restricting weapons to legitimate forces.”

President Aoun concluded: “While we thank the European Union and its member states for this step, we reaffirm that Lebanon will provide all necessary cooperation to ensure the mission’s success. This support constitutes an additional pillar in the process of consolidating stability and enhancing the role of legitimate institutions, which we rely on to sustain partnership with Lebanon’s friends.”