U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus received by President Joseph Aoun in Baabda, April 5, 2025. Photo sent by Lebanese presidency.
U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus, who arrived in Beirut over the weekend amid heightened tensions with Israel, adopted a notably softer tone than expected, particularly regarding Hezbollah’s disarmament.
According to information obtained by L’Orient-Le Jour from multiple Lebanese officials, Ortagus’ meetings with Lebanese leaders were described as positive — a sentiment reflected in her Sunday night interview with local TV channel LBCI.
“I have very good relations with President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri,” she said, adding she was “impressed” by the caliber of ministers in Salam’s government.
On Hezbollah’s weapons, Ortagus reiterated Washington’s position that disarmament should happen “as soon as possible,” but did not impose a timeline, as some Lebanese officials had feared or hoped. She instead positioned economic reform as the top U.S. priority.
Ortagus began her visit Saturday meeting with President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. She also met with Foreign Minister Joe Rajji, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, Army chief Rodolph Haykal, Culture Minister Ghassan Salameh and the government’s IMF negotiation team — Finance Minister Yassine Jaber, Economy Minister Amer Bsat and central bank governor Karim Souhaid.
Geagea stressed during their meeting the need for state authority across all Lebanese territory, disarmament of militias, border and port control, and the completion of Israeli withdrawal from remaining southern areas, according to a Lebanese Forces statement.
One informed source told L’Orient-Le Jour that Ortagus stressed the full implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 — particularly the disarmament of Hezbollah — and praised new security measures at Beirut’s international airport, including cash control protocols and restrictions on flights from Iran.
“However, she did not push for a fixed timeline, understanding that this is a complex issue that cannot be resolved abruptly,” the source said.
In her interview, Ortagus said the U.S. is urging the Lebanese government to implement the cease-fire fully, which includes the disarmament of all militias. “This must happen as soon as possible, especially to free the Lebanese people,” she said. “But that does not necessarily mean it must follow a set schedule.”
“Normalization is not a priority”
Ortagus affirmed that the U.S. supports Israel’s “right” to carry out operations in Lebanon to defend itself from “terrorist attacks.” Israeli airstrikes on Lebanese territory have increased in scope, becoming near-daily attacks on southern Lebanon, following two unclaimed missile attacks from southern Lebanon into northern Israel, despite a cease-fire in effect since Nov. 27, 2024.
At the time, Ortagus publicly questioned the Lebanese Army’s response, asking, “Why isn’t the army doing its job?” — a criticism of Washington’s key military partner in Lebanon.
However, in her interview, she reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to Lebanon’s military, saying, “Providing arms to the Lebanese Army is a priority for us.”
Ortagus also addressed disputes with Israel regarding border demarcation, withdrawal from five still-occupied southern points, and the release of Lebanese prisoners. Last month, she and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed the creation of three diplomatic working groups to resolve these issues — a proposal Beirut rejected, seeing it as a step toward normalization.
According to L’Orient-Le Jour, Salam suggested indirect negotiations with Tel Aviv, with Ortagus acting as mediator — a proposal she reportedly welcomed. This model mirrors the indirect U.S.-brokered maritime border negotiations conducted by her predecessor, Amos Hochstein, from 2021 to 2022. In her interview, Ortagus stated that “normalization of relations between Israel and Lebanon is not a U.S. priority,” though she noted Aoun “did not oppose” the idea of diplomatic talks — a position he has publicly rejected on several occasions.
“Moving away from a cash economy”
Reconstruction in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza was another major focus of Ortagus’ meetings. She stressed the need for substantial international aid but said countries in the region “must no longer be perpetual recipients.”
She called for political solutions and emphasized the involvement of youth and the diaspora in financing efforts. A Lebanese official quoted by AFP said Ortagus conveyed that reconstruction in Lebanon depends first on the expansion of state authority and the implementation of reforms.
According to multiple sources, she welcomed Lebanon’s steps toward financial transparency, including banking secrecy reform, sector restructuring, and a new appointment mechanism for public officials. She also underscored the importance of fighting money laundering and finalizing an agreement with the IMF.
On Sunday, she met at the U.S. Embassy with the finance and economy ministers and the central bank governor to discuss reform prerequisites for IMF assistance. A meeting between Lebanese officials and IMF representatives is set to take place during the World Bank and IMF spring meetings in Washington from April 21 to 26.
“Unlike my first visit, there is now a functioning government,” she noted, saying she met with no fewer than nine ministers and was impressed by their profiles. Ortagus also expressed hope that Lebanon would move away from its “cash economy” and exit the Financial Action Task Force’s “gray list,” which monitors countries at risk of money laundering and terror financing.
The U.S. appears determined to cut off Hezbollah’s financial lifelines, including its control of Lebanon’s shadow economy and smuggling networks. The party has suffered financially since the Assad regime in Syria fell, while facing mounting demands to fund reconstruction and support thousands of families of slain or wounded fighters.
Lebanon has already blocked the flow of millions of dollars through its airport and pledged to end parallel economic networks.
“If Lebanon slows the pace of reforms, it cannot expect the same level of partnership with the United States,” Ortagus warned during her interview. “Of course, Lebanon is a democratic and sovereign state, and we are its friend and respect its independence. But we decide how to engage based on the path it chooses.”
