Paris trilateral summit discussed support for the Lebanese army and the future of UNIFIL
Paris – Agencies: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Jordanian King Abdullah II, and French President Emmanuel Macron held a trilateral meeting at the Les Invalides palace in the French capital, Paris. The meeting took place ahead of the opening of the preparatory session for the international conference supporting the Lebanese Army and Internal Security Forces, and to assess options following the planned reduction of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mission, which is scheduled to begin next January.
The trilateral meeting focused on mechanisms to enhance cooperation and coordination in areas of mutual interest, as well as discussing France’s hosting of a new round of the “Aqaba Meetings” initiative, aimed at exploring ways to support the Lebanese Army and Internal Security Forces in maintaining security.
The meeting also addressed developments in Gaza, the West Bank, and occupied Jerusalem, with the three leaders calling for intensified international efforts to achieve a comprehensive and lasting de-escalation in the region.
For his part, the Lebanese President emphasized what he described as the interdependence of regional security, calling for the formulation of a shared regional security strategy through the implementation of joint energy projects and the expansion of economic, security, and political cooperation.
These talks, which were attended by a senior U.S. military official responsible for Middle East security issues, as well as military leaders from European and Arab countries, are being conducted outside the framework of official negotiations brokered by Washington.
The meetings aim to prepare for a donors’ conference, likely to be held in late 2026 or early 2027, to support the military and financial needs of the Lebanese Army.
Participants in Paris are seeking to discuss practical alternatives to fill the potential security vacuum that may arise when the reduction of the UNIFIL force, which numbers approximately 7,500 personnel, begins.
The options under consideration include establishing a new international mission initiated by France and Italy outside the United Nations umbrella, or launching a mission under the European Union framework focused on training, equipping, intelligence sharing, and providing advisory support to the Lebanese Army.
A French presidential official stated prior to the meeting that defining the mechanisms and mandate of international action requires detailed discussion, given the divergence between Lebanese demands and U.S. demands within the UN Security Council.
