(Credit: @KSAMOFA / Twitter)
BEIRUT — After a months-long diplomatic crisis, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait announced Thursday evening that they will send their ambassadors back to Lebanon.
Here’s what we know:
• In a statement published on Twitter, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said “In response to the calls and pleas by the moderate political factions in Lebanon, and as an assurance to the commitments made by the Lebanese Prime Minister in taking the appropriate and necessary measures to restore cooperation with the kingdom [Saudi Arabia] and Gulf Countries and stopping all political and military activities against the kingdom and Gulf countries, the Foreing Affairs Ministry of Saudi Arabia announces the return of the ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the brotherly Republic of Lebanon.”
• Also on Thursday evening, Kuwait's ambassador, Abdel Aal Al-Qenai, informed Prime Minister Najib Mikati of the Kuwaiti government's decision to return to Beirut before the end of the week. "What brings Lebanon and Kuwait together is a history of close brotherly relations, which are becoming more and more solid by the day," said Mikati, also thanking Sheikh Ahmed Nasser al-Mohammed Al-Sabah, the Kuwaiti minister of foreign affairs, for his efforts to bring Lebanon back into the Arab fold.
• Diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia deteriorated after then-Information Minister George Kurdahi made statements about the Saudi-Yemeni war before resigning on Dec. 4, 2021. The same day of Kurdahi’s resignation, French President Emmanuel Macron, following a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, said that his country and Saudi Arabia are committed to working together to enable Lebanon to emerge from its compounding crises.
• An Arab roadmap for restoring relations with Lebanon was transmitted to Beirut by Kuwait in January, and contains 12 points, including on Hezbollah’s weapons and several general requests from the international community, such as the organization of the parliamentary elections and the implementation of reforms, as well as a call for compliance with UN Resolution 1559. At the end of January, Kuwait announced that Lebanon's response to the proposals was “under consideration” and that decisions would be taken based on the follow-up to the initiative.