Macron Invites Aoun to Chair Lebanon Army Support Conference in Paris

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun received an official invitation on Thursday from French President Emmanuel Macron to co-chair an international conference to support the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces, scheduled for March next year.

The Lebanese Presidency stated in a press release that “Aoun received an official invitation from Macron on Thursday to participate in the international conference to support the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces, which will be held in Paris.”

In the invitation, Macron described Aoun’s attendance as “a strong political signal” reflecting the robust Franco-Lebanese ties and the shared commitment to Lebanon’s stability and full sovereignty. Macron added that “the conference aims to strengthen international political, financial, and technical support for security institutions, while mobilizing coordinated assistance aligned with Lebanon’s defined priorities.”

The Paris Conference to Support the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces is a French initiative announced in January 2026. It follows the successful completion of the first phase of the arms containment plan south of the Litani River, as part of efforts to disarm Hezbollah and reinforce Lebanese state sovereignty, with international backing from France, Saudi Arabia, and the United States.

Preparatory meetings were held in Paris (December 2025) and Cairo, attended by Army Commander General Rodolphe Heikel and international envoys. The conference aims to mobilize funding, equipment, and training for the army to address resource shortages and ensure the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the ceasefire agreement with Israel.

Fifty countries are expected to attend, with a focus on coordinated support to complete the remaining phases of the arms containment process.