Aoun Opens the Post-Washington Chapter... Political Support for the State Option and a Strategic Partnership with Iraq

President Joseph Aoun continued his series of meetings at Baabda Palace as part of following up on the results of his official visit to the United States, alongside discussions on political, diplomatic, economic, and development files.

In this context, President Aoun received MP Melhem Riachi as an envoy from Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, who was briefed on the outcome of the talks he held in Washington. For his part, Riachi affirmed the Lebanese Forces' continued support for the President's positions and national choices, particularly those related to consolidating the authority of the state and extending its sovereignty over all Lebanese territory.

The President also reviewed with the Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon, Monsignor Paolo Borgia, the results of his meeting with US President Donald Trump, in addition to the security developments in the south amid ongoing Israeli attacks and destruction operations, as well as the humanitarian conditions of residents of the border villages and their urgent needs. The papal envoy stressed the Holy See's concern for Lebanon and the Pope's commitment to continuing efforts aimed at entrenching security and stability in the country.

On the economic front, President Aoun received Minister of Energy and Water Joe Saddi, who briefed him on the results of his talks with his Iraqi counterpart during the Prime Minister's visit to Baghdad, noting that the meetings were highly positive and that cooperation between Lebanon and Iraq in the energy sector, particularly in oil, is heading toward further expansion and coordination.

Minister of Telecommunications Charles Hajj also presented to the President the results of the official visit to Iraq, affirming that the meetings reflected the strength of Lebanese-Iraqi relations and opened new horizons for cooperation in the energy, economy, and telecommunications sectors.

Hajj revealed the Ministry of Telecommunications' vision for launching a digital corridor linking Lebanon and Iraq through fiber-optic networks, providing Iraq with an additional outlet to submarine cables in the Mediterranean and enhancing digital and economic integration between the two countries.