On Wednesday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with Qatar's emir, Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, during an official visit to Doha.

Following the meeting, the two leaders agreed, according to statements by the Lebanese presidency, on the "importance of preserving civil peace in Lebanon" and ensuring that the monopoly of arms is in the hands of the Lebanese state.

Aoun and the Qatari emir initially met in an extended meeting before retreating for a private conversation. Their meeting concluded with an official lunch, as reported by Baabda's X account.

Among the key announcements, Qatar confirmed it would renew its $60 million donation to support the Lebanese Army, a pledge initially made in 2022. It will also provide "162 military vehicles" to help the Lebanese Army fulfill its national duties, maintain stability and secure borders across the country.

Both leaders stressed the national role of the Lebanese Army and the need to implement Resolution 1701. This Security Council resolution, which ended the 2006 war in Lebanon, is a key part of the truce reached at the end of November between Hezbollah and Israel, who had been in conflict since Oct. 8, 2023, the day after the Gaza war began.

According to the joint statement, the Emir of Qatar reassured the Lebanese president that Qatar stands by Lebanon and its institutions, reaffirming Doha's commitment to Lebanon's stability and territorial unity. President Joseph Aoun expressed his gratitude.

Regionally, the two leaders reiterated their strong support for the Palestinian people's legitimate rights, including the establishment of an independent state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with the Arab Peace Initiative and international resolutions. They also renewed support for Syria's unity, sovereignty and independence.

Implementing Aoun's inauguration speech

According to a statement from Baabda Presidential Palace, Aoun and Thani discussed the importance of preserving civil peace in Lebanon and emphasized the need to implement key points of Aoun's inaugural speech, "particularly concerning the Lebanese state's monopoly on arms." This issue has sparked much debate in Lebanon, with Aoun repeatedly expressing his commitment to addressing it. In a press interview on Tuesday, he declared, "The decision has been taken" to ensure the state's monopoly on weapons and to disarm Hezbollah, which was significantly weakened by its recent war with Israel between October 2023 and November 2024.

In this context, Aoun informed the Qatari Emir that "the Lebanese Army is fully fulfilling its duty in South Lebanon in application of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701," while condemning the ongoing Israeli occupation, which he said hinders the army's deployment, particularly due to "repeated attacks," such as the one in Wadi Hojeir, which killed one Lebanese soldier.

Qatar has been a strong backer of the Lebanese army, providing financial assistance for military salaries and fuel. Aoun expressed his gratitude to the Emir of Qatar for this continued support.

Support in the energy sector

For his Part, the Qatari Emir emphasized the "historic importance" of Aoun’s visit to Doha as part of the ongoing cooperation between the two countries. "What matters to us is that Lebanon is stable," he said, noting that the current atmosphere is "favorable" for stability both domestically and internationally. He added that Qatar is ready to assist Beirut in areas such as electricity, energy and other sectors. Thani also pointed to the election of Aoun in January and the subsequent formation of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's government after a two-year presidential vacancy as a chance to "activate" this support.

Qatar was part of the "quintet" — which also includes the U.S., France, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt — that helped resolve Lebanon's presidential impasse, which had persisted since October 2022.