Centralization – a unified Gulf approach to Lebanon

Nidaa Al-Watan indicated that international and Arab foreign appeals continue to the Lebanese government to expedite reform and rescue plans and to brake the collapse. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi stressed to President Najib Mikati yesterday, “Lebanon’s need for political accord to re-awaken it from the setback it is experiencing.” Likewise, the message of the League of Arab States was clear through an official source in the General Secretariat of the League who quoted its Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit after receiving Mikati, “his affirmation that achieving internal consensus, even if it is important in order to move forward on the path of reforms to restore confidence in the Lebanese economy, is only It should not be a window to disrupt the reform measures demanded by the Lebanese and international community,” with Aboul Gheit stressing at the same time the need to “strengthen Lebanon’s relations with its Arab surroundings,” as it “constitutes an important aspect of overcoming the challenges facing the country.”

And in light of the Yemeni government’s demand yesterday that the Lebanese government take a “decisive position” regarding the continued interference of “Hezbollah” in Yemeni affairs and its support for the Houthis, following the “killing of the expert and leader of Hezbollah, Akram Al-Sayed, by artillery bombardment of the Yemeni army on the front of Umm Rish in Marib”, the Minister renewed Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan indicated that “there is no crisis between Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, but rather a crisis in Lebanon between Hezbollah and the Lebanese people,” stressing that “we must see actions and not words from the Lebanese government, and that we see real reforms.”

At the same time, a unified Gulf position on the Lebanese crisis crystallized through the tour of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to a number of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, especially with Qatar joining its voice with the voice of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in stressing the importance of “undertaking comprehensive reforms that ensure the Lebanon for its crises, and not to be a starting point for any actions that destabilize the region’s security and stability, or a corridor for drug trafficking,” as stated in a joint Saudi-Qatari statement at the conclusion of the talks that the Saudi Crown Prince had with the Emir of Qatar.

For his part, the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida pointed out that Lebanon returned to the core of Arab and international concerns, and attended the Lebanese file in the Gulf tour of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The importance of the Lebanese file.

This indicates the Gulf, and Saudi Arabia in particular, interest in Lebanon, and this is an indication that Riyadh has not withdrawn or “withdrawn its hand” from Lebanon, but rather wants to restore balance and strengthen the Lebanese state and its ability to be able to renew and weave relations with Arab and international powers.

It is necessary to pay attention to these developments, especially since Saudi Arabia seeks through these positions to show Gulf solidarity and consensus regarding the common approach to the Lebanese file, which is a comprehensive Gulf message addressed to other powers.

This Gulf interest comes in the wake of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Saudi Arabia and the issuance of a common position regarding the historical constants of the French and Saudi positions towards Lebanon, especially the implementation of international resolutions and the confinement of arms to the state, in addition to providing all the elements of stability.

This indicates an exceptional interest in Lebanon and the development of a road map for the next stage, awaiting what regional and international developments will bring, and the achievement of the main achievements that Lebanon awaits, especially the parliamentary and presidential elections.