Lebanese President Joseph Aoun arrived in Riyadh on Monday afternoon on his first official foreign visit nearly two months after being elected as president of the country.
Similar to the president of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, the recently elected president of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, chose to make Riyadh his first foreign visit since being elected to the position.
It also continues Saudi Arabia’s notable run as a diplomatic nexus for countries across the globe.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had invited President Aoun to visit during January 11th phone call congratulating him on his election. Aoun, the former Lebanese army chief had previously announced that his first official foreign trip would be to Saudi Arabia.
Aoun’s candidacy was supported by Saudi Arabia as well as Western countries including France and the United States. Lebanon had been unable to elect a president in more than two years.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the Crown Prince welcomed the Lebanese President and the two discussed the latest developments concerning Lebanon and the region and the efforts being exerted in this regard. They also reviewed relations between the Kingdom and Lebanon, exploring ways to support and enhance them. Prior to the meeting Aoun said, “The visit is an opportunity to emphasize the depth of Lebanese-Saudi relations and is also an occasion to express Lebanon’s appreciation for the role played by the Kingdom in supporting Lebanon’s stability, safety and regularity of the work of its constitutional institutions.”
An official reception ceremony was held in honor of the Lebanese leader. The reception was attended by Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd; Deputy Emir of Riyadh Region Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman; Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal; Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif; Minister of the National Guard Prince Abdullah bin Bandar; Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman; Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan; Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet and National Security Advisor Dr. Musaed Al-Aiban; Minister of Commerce Dr. Majed Al-Qasabi, the accompanying minister; Advisor to Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Yazid bin Mohammed; and Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed Bukhari. On the Lebanese side, the reception was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Youssef Rajji, Lebanese Ambassador to the Kingdom Dr. Fawzi Kabbara, and a number of senior officials from the Lebanese Presidency.
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