Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, made a historic visit to Lebanon on Thursday, marking the first trip by Riyadh’s top diplomat to Beirut in nearly 15 years. 

Prince Faisal’s visit began with a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, where he held discussions with President Joseph Aoun. During the meeting, the Saudi minister reaffirmed the Kingdom’s unwavering support for Lebanon and its people, underscoring the importance of adhering to the ceasefire agreement, Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese territories, and the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, along with other international resolutions.

Expressing optimism about Lebanon’s future, Prince Faisal praised the reform-oriented approach outlined in President Aoun’s inauguration speech, as he encouraged Lebanese leaders to seize this opportunity and work diligently to address the country’s challenges.

“The Kingdom views Lebanon’s future with optimism in light of the reformist approach articulated in the president's inaugural speech and hopes the leadership will act seriously for the benefit of the country,” he stated. 

“These reforms will boost the confidence of Lebanon’s partners and open space for the country to regain its rightful place in the Arab and international spheres,” he added.

For his part, President Aoun hailed the Saudi FM's visit "a message of hope," expressing gratitude to the Kingdom for its efforts in supporting Lebanon, particularly in helping to resolve the presidential vacuum.  

"We look forward to stronger bilateral relations across all sectors and eagerly anticipate the return of our Saudi brothers to Lebanon," he stressed.

The Lebanese president also affirmed that his inauguration speech "was written to be executed," saying that it was meant to reflect the will of the Lebanese people and address their concerns. 

During his visit, the Saudi Foreign Minister will meet with key Lebanese officials, including Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri, Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam. 

Upon landing in Beirut airport, Prince Faisal was received by Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdallah Bou Habib, Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari, and senior Lebanese diplomatic officials.

The visit’s significance is amplified by the fact that it is the first by a senior Saudi official since a series of crises soured relations between the two nations over the past decade.

Saudi Arabia, once a major investor and political ally of Lebanon, grew increasingly disenchanted with the rising influence of Iran-backed Hezbollah and its allies in the Lebanese government. This discontent culminated in a diplomatic crisis in 2021, sparked by Lebanon’s failure to curb drug smuggling operations targeting the Kingdom and critical remarks by a Lebanese minister about Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the Yemen war. Riyadh responded by banning Lebanese imports, a move that exacerbated Lebanon’s already dire economic crisis.