Lebanese President Joseph Aoun departed Beirut's international airport for Riyadh on Monday, accompanied by Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji, the Lebanese presidency said in a post on X. Lebanon’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Fawzi Kabbara, will join the delegation in Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia is Aoun’s first foreign destination since taking office on Jan. 9. In late January, he pledged to strengthen Lebanon’s ties with Gulf states, vowing to establish “new bases of cooperation.”

During his visit, Aoun is expected to outline his vision for Lebanon’s relationship with the kingdom. He has already set the tone, first by telling Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf last Sunday that Lebanon has had enough of others' wars on its soil and needs stability and prosperity. Then, in a televised interview Friday, he stressed Lebanon’s need to be part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. He also reaffirmed Lebanon’s support for the Arab position on key regional issues.

Relations between Lebanon and the Gulf states have been strained in recent years due to political, economic, and diplomatic tensions. However, with Hezbollah militarily weakened after its latest war with Israel, Gulf nations have once again extended their hand to Lebanon.