Joseph Aoun, the president of Lebanon, travels to Riyadh for the first time since assuming office in January.
According to the two countries, Saudi Arabia will examine “obstacles” to resuming Lebanese imports and lifting a prohibition on its citizens travelling to Lebanon.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun made the announcement in a joint statement following his meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, in Riyadh on Tuesday. This was Aoun’s first international travel since assuming office in January.
After a protracted period of disengagement due to the prominence of Iran-backed Hezbollah, which has been reduced following last year’s war with Israel, Saudi Arabia has rekindled its involvement in Lebanese affairs.
According to a statement released by the official Saudi Press Agency, “the two sides agreed to start studying the obstacles facing the resumption of exports from the Lebanese Republic to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the measures necessary to allow Saudi citizens to travel to Lebanon.”
Alleging that shipments were being utilised for drug smuggling and blaming Beirut for delay, the monarchy halted the import of fruits and vegetables from Lebanon in April 2021.
