Bilal Saab, Senior Managing Director of Trends Research Group, spoke positively about Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s visit to Washington. In an interview with France 24, Saab—whom the network describes as a close friend of the Lebanese president—expressed cautious optimism about the outcome of the meeting.
In his view, Aoun’s trip to the U.S. is an important opportunity to strengthen international support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and its state institutions.
At the same time, Saab acknowledged that Lebanon faces significant structural challenges. Among them, he cited “Hezbollah,” regional tensions, and complex Israeli-Lebanese security issues.
The France 24 interviewee believes that success cannot be achieved through military coercion. In his view, the key lies in the gradual strengthening of the Lebanese state and sustained political support, rather than symbolic declarations. Saab also described Lebanon as a test for U.S. regional diplomacy and a fragile experiment in state-building.
