Spain is considering keeping military units in southern Lebanon after the planned withdrawal of the United Nations peacekeeping force in 2027, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Monday during talks with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Madrid.

According to sources cited by Al-Markazia, Sánchez reaffirmed Madrid’s support for efforts by Aoun and the Lebanese government to strengthen security and stability, stressing that a stable Lebanon is in Spain’s strategic interest. He added that any decision on maintaining a Spanish presence in the south after the departure of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) would be discussed with European Union partners.

The future of international forces in southern Lebanon has become a growing focus for Lebanese officials, who are seeking to avoid a security vacuum once UNIFIL completes its phased withdrawal.

European governments appear increasingly determined to maintain a foothold in the area, regardless of whether Beirut formally requests it, according to Lebanese political sources. The sources say European countries want to preserve at least a symbolic presence on the eastern Mediterranean, a region seen as vital to their broader strategic interests.

Italy, Austria, and Spain are already exploring options for a continued military role, the sources said, and are consulting on the format such a presence might take. Germany has signaled its intention to remain engaged, particularly through its naval contingent, while keeping a limited ground presence. Britain is also expected to maintain involvement.

France, meanwhile, has emerged as a key driver of efforts to keep European forces in the south beyond UNIFIL’s mandate. Paris has been coordinating closely with other European capitals to develop a common approach and prevent a complete international withdrawal from the area.

Lebanese officials discussed the issue with French presidential envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian during his recent visit to Beirut and plan to raise it again with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, who is due in Lebanon later this week.

Diplomatic sources in Beirut say discussions are moving toward a potential direct agreement between Lebanon and the European Union that would allow a European force to remain in southern Lebanon without requiring a new UN Security Council mandate.

Such a force would aim to fill the gap left by UNIFIL, even if only in a limited or symbolic capacity, and would be tasked with supporting local communities and assisting the Lebanese Army, particularly during the delicate phase of consolidating the ceasefire and overseeing reconstruction in the south.