Lebanon's caretaker Minister of Economy and Trade, Amin Salam, and Donald Trump's Lebanese-American advisor Massaad Boulos.
During his extended stay in Washington, where he attended the annual meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in late Oct., Lebanon’s caretaker Economy and Trade Minister, Amin Salam, met with Massaad Boulos, the Lebanese-American adviser to President-elect Donald Trump.
According to a statement from the ministry's press office, the two discussed "several Lebanese issues," including negotiations for a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah, who have been in conflict since Oct. 8, 2023.
Quoted in the statement, Boulos affirmed that Donald Trump "is committed to his pledge for a cease-fire" in the region, which has been inflamed since the start of the Gaza war. He emphasized the need "to establish lasting peace (...) accompanied by an economic plan" and a framework to address the "Palestinian cause." Salam is not the first Lebanese representative to meet with Boulos since the presidential election on Nov. 5.
In a separate statement, the ministry noted that Salam also met with Enoh Ebong, head of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). The mission of USTDA, according to its website, is "to help American companies create jobs in the United States by exporting U.S. goods and services for priority infrastructure projects in emerging economies."
The press office specified that the meeting "focused on strengthening economic cooperation between Lebanon and the United States, with an emphasis on supporting development projects in infrastructure, energy, and technology" as well as ways to increase American investment in Lebanon. The minister was also presented with a U.S. study "prepared 15 years ago" on Qleyaat Airport in Akkar, northern Lebanon, which needs rehabilitation to serve as a gateway for international flights. Lebanon currently has only one international airport, in Beirut.
