During a speech Tuesday at the extraordinary Arab summit in Cairo to discuss a Gaza reconstruction plan, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun made pointed remarks about Iran and reiterated his commitment to rebuilding strong ties with Arab countries, particularly those in the Gulf.

The Palestinian cause is "a Palestinian national right, an Arab right and a global human right," he said. "The Palestinian question requires us to always stand by its people, their choices, and their decisions, with their official authorities and legitimate representatives."

"The Arab dimension of the Palestinian question requires us all to remain strong so that Palestine remains strong," he continued. "Because when one occupies Beirut, destroys Damascus, threatens Amman, makes Baghdad suffer or takes Sanaa ... it is impossible for anyone to claim that this serves Palestine." His statement was an allusion to the Iranian axis in the region and its allies in Lebanon, Syria and Yemen.

Aoun also stated that "Lebanon has suffered a lot, but it has learned from its sufferings."

"It has learned not to be at the mercy of others' wars. It has learned not to be the headquarters or corridor for foreign policies," he continued. "It is also not a stronghold for occupations, tutelage or hegemony."

He also noted that the "existential interests [of the country] lie with its Arab neighborhood" and that its role in the region is to be "a country of encounter, not a field of conflict."

The president also said Lebanon will not give up its land and that "every inch" of its territory will be liberated. The Israeli army still holds positions in southern Lebanon despite its alleged official withdrawal from the country on Feb. 18.

"In my country, just like in Palestine, there are still lands occupied by Israel. Lebanese prisoners are in its jails," the head of state said. "We do not give up our land, we do not forget our prisoners, and we do not abandon them."

"There is no peace without the liberation of every inch of our territory, recognized internationally, documented, validated and delineated by the United Nations. And there is no peace without a Palestinian state," he added, aligning with the Saudi position on the issue.

Aoun also said, "Lebanon's complete and stable sovereignty is strengthened by the full restoration of Syria and the complete independence of Palestine."

"Any destabilization of an Arab neighbor is a destabilization for all its neighbors. And vice versa," he said. Aoun concluded his speech by saying, "Lebanon is reclaiming its Arab legitimacy today, thanks to you and your constant support."

Aoun-Sharaa meeting

On the sidelines of the summit, Aoun met with several Arab representatives, including the U.N. secretary-general, with whom he discussed the situation in southern Lebanon and the Israeli military presence in certain parts of the national territory.

Aoun also met with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, who affirmed "his country's willingness to continue supporting the Lebanese Army and helping finance vital projects, such as the development of the electricity sector," according to the Lebanese presidency.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II, during his meeting with Aoun, said a new batch of military vehicles will be sent to Lebanon to support the army. The head of state also met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

"We support all measures taken by the Lebanese government to strengthen state sovereignty over its entire territory and implement Resolution 1701," Abbas said.

Aoun also spoke with Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa and his Syrian counterpart, Ahmad al-Sharaa. According to the Lebanese presidency, Aoun and Sharaa, meeting for the first time, "discussed several pending issues."

"It was agreed to coordinate through joint commissions that will be formed after the composition of the new Syrian government," the presidency said, without giving further details. It was also "agreed on the need to control the borders between the two countries."

Visit to Saudi Arabia

The day before, the president was in Riyadh, where he met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The two discussed the importance of ensuring that the Lebanese state holds a monopoly on arms, disarming Hezbollah, and securing the withdrawal of the Israeli army from all Lebanese territories, according to a joint statement released Tuesday.

The statement, published by the official Lebanese and Saudi agencies, said Aoun and the crown prince agreed to strengthen cooperation between their countries, coordinate positions on major regional and international issues, and explore ways to bolster Lebanese sovereignty.

Regarding bilateral relations, both parties agreed to begin examining the obstacles hindering the resumption of Lebanese exports to Saudi Arabia and the necessary measures to allow Saudi citizens to travel to Lebanon, the statement said.

Aoun’s official visit to Riyadh is seen as a significant step in warming Lebanese-Saudi relations, long strained by tensions related to Iran and Hezbollah. Saudi nationals are still prohibited from traveling to Lebanon, and trade relations have been frozen for years.

On Oct. 29, 2021, the kingdom announced retaliatory measures after then-Information Minister Georges Cordahi’s comments about the war in Yemen and the role of Gulf countries in the conflict. The crisis deepened due to Hezbollah’s influence over Lebanese politics and drug smuggling operations hidden in imported products.

During the meeting, Aoun and bin Salman also discussed Lebanese sovereignty and "the importance of implementing what was mentioned in Joseph Aoun’s presidential inaugural speech" on Jan. 9.

Both parties "emphasized the importance of fully implementing the Taif Accord, enforcing relevant international resolutions, affirming the state’s sovereignty over all Lebanese territories, restricting arms to Lebanese state forces, strengthening the role of the Lebanese army, and ensuring the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all Lebanese lands," the statement said.

On Lebanon’s economic recovery, both sides "agreed on the need to launch the required international-level reforms based on principles of transparency and enforcement of binding laws." The statement affirmed that "Lebanon is a genuine member of the Arab community and that its relations with Arab countries are the guarantee of its security and stability."

The statement concluded by mentioning Aoun’s invitation to the Saudi crown prince, who received it "favorably."

Shortly after departing Riyadh for Cairo, Aoun sent a final message to bin Salman, thanking him for his "welcome, which reflects the depth of the historical Lebanese-Saudi brotherly relations."

"Our discussions laid a solid foundation for a new phase in relations between our two countries, which we agreed to activate and develop in all fields," he wrote.