Kataeb MP Salim Sayegh said France remains closely aligned with the United States on Lebanon and the ongoing negotiations surrounding the country’s security and political future, while also renewing calls to accelerate work on Qlayaat Airport as part of a broader strategy to strengthen Lebanon’s infrastructure and resilience.

Speaking to Voice of Lebanon radio, Sayegh said no European Union member state, particularly France, can diverge from the framework established by Washington regarding Lebanon and efforts to support the negotiations currently underway.

“No country in the European Union, especially France, can step outside the framework being set by the United States on the Lebanese file and the ongoing negotiations,” Sayegh said.

He noted that coordination takes place regularly through the Friends of Lebanon group, where participating countries continuously consult on developments and policy initiatives.

“This is evident in the meetings of the Friends of Lebanon group, where there is ongoing coordination and follow-up on all the issues under discussion,” he said. “It confirms that France and the United States are closely aligned in their approach to Lebanon.”

Sayegh said Lebanon’s objectives remain clear: restoring full sovereignty, securing all Lebanese territory, and ensuring that weapons are exclusively under state control.

“Lebanon’s choice is clear: liberating its territory, establishing stability and reassurance across the country, and restricting arms to the authority of the State,” he said.

He added that a meeting between French presidential envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian and Kataeb leader Samy Gemayel would help clarify France’s position on the crisis.

Sayegh said France is capable of mobilizing support for Lebanon and the Lebanese Armed Forces and predicted that both France and the European Union would play an increasingly significant role as the country seeks to emerge from its current crisis.

“France can help secure support for Lebanon and its army,” he said. “The role of France and the European Union in Lebanon will grow during the country’s recovery phase because of their international influence and their deep presence in Lebanon’s collective consciousness.”

Turning to the issue of Qlayaat Airport in northern Lebanon, Sayegh said his party had raised the matter with the previous government in 2024 during the war that erupted along Lebanon’s southern border.

“We questioned the previous government in 2024 during the support war and told them that Lebanon should not be held hostage to security developments,” he said.

Sayegh recalled the challenges faced by Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport during periods of heightened conflict and said many Lebanese felt vulnerable because the country depended on a single aviation gateway.

“We remember the heroic pilots who continued flying while bombardments were taking place around the airport and along the airport road,” he said. “Lebanese citizens felt like hostages to all of these developments.”

He said critics at the time accused Kataeb of seeking to divide the country by advocating for alternative airport infrastructure.

“They accused us of wanting to partition Lebanon and fragment the country,” Sayegh said. “When we raised the issue with the relevant minister in the previous government, we never received a proper answer.”

Sayegh stressed that completing the Qlayaat Airport project is not merely an alternative transportation solution but a strategic national infrastructure project.

“When we talk about completing the work at Qlayaat Airport, we are not talking about a secondary solution,” he said. “The airport is a vital piece of infrastructure, and that is what matters today.”

He said finalizing the remaining preparatory work would allow authorities to launch the tender process and begin implementation within three months, in line with commitments made by the public works minister.

“We have been assured that once the remaining work is completed, the tender can be launched and implementation can begin within three months,” Sayegh said.

He emphasized that the project is intended to serve the entire country rather than only northern Lebanon.

“This is not a project for the North alone; it is a project for all of Lebanon,” he said. “Balanced development and comprehensive security are rights for every part of the country, and all Lebanese will benefit from Qlayaat Airport.”