President Joseph Aoun entering the Baabda Palace on the day of his election, Jan. 9, 2025. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'OLJ)
Lebanon is walking a tightrope. It is facing a difficult choice: either yield to pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump by accepting a meeting between President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, or slip into the alternative scenario — a major Israeli military escalation with Washington's approval. Beirut, however, is seeking to avoid such a face-to-face, preferring instead to reach an agreement through a process of negotiations. If a meeting were to take place, it could only happen as the result of that process.The Americans see things differently. They are circulating messages that combine both incentives and threats. The first set of incentives would be granted if Lebanon agrees to the meeting. In that case, Trump would reportedly commit to ensuring that the summit produces concrete and tangible results,...
Lebanon is walking a tightrope. It is facing a difficult choice: either yield to pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump by accepting a meeting between President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, or slip into the alternative scenario — a major Israeli military escalation with Washington's approval. Beirut, however, is seeking to avoid such a face-to-face, preferring instead to reach an agreement through a process of negotiations. If a meeting were to take place, it could only happen as the result of that process.The Americans see things differently. They are circulating messages that combine both incentives and threats. The first set of incentives would be granted if Lebanon agrees to the meeting. In that case, Trump would reportedly commit to ensuring that the summit produces concrete and tangible...
'American sponsorship is a guarantee,' says Lebanese-American coordination committee