Trudeau congratulates President Aoun, expresses Canada's support for Lebanon

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau contacted Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Monday to congratulate him on his assumption of the presidency and to express Canada's support for Lebanon.

“Canada stands with Lebanon and supports it while working to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries in various fields,” Trudeau said, according to a statement from the Lebanese presidency.

President Aoun thanked Trudeau for his congratulations, highlighting the “strong ties between Lebanon and Canada,” as well as the presence of a large Lebanese community in Canada, which actively contributes to its development and progress.

After more than two years of vacancy at the head of the Lebanese state, Aoun was elected president on Jan. 9, and a few days later, on Jan. 13, Nawaf Salam was designated to form the new ministerial team. The accession of these two men to power sparks hope for renewal among many Lebanese, after Hezbollah emerged deeply weakened from its war against Israel.