Lebanese President to Meet Trump to Discuss Negotiations with Israel
JAKARTA - Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday (21/7) to discuss bilateral relations, developments in the Lebanese security and economic situation.
A senior Lebanese official told Anadolu on Saturday, July 18, that the talks of the two leaders would focus on direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, as well as the implementation of the framework agreement mediated by the United States, especially efforts to strengthen the implementation of the ceasefire.
The statement came hours after the Lebanese Presidential Office announced that Aoun had left Beirut for Washington, D.C., on Saturday morning for an official visit to the United States at the invitation of President Trump.
According to the official, the United States as a mediator has the ability to put pressure on Israel to encourage the implementation of the agreement within the framework that has been agreed upon.
Support for the Lebanese Armed Forces will also be one of the main agendas, especially in the pilot areas listed in the agreement with Israel.
In addition, the two parties are expected to discuss a number of steps to support the recovery of the Lebanese economy, which is still facing long-term challenges.
Discussions will also cover the future of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) whose mandate expires this year while the gradual withdrawal of the force is scheduled to begin in 2027, the source said.
The official stressed that Lebanon welcomes the presence of any United Nations force that can help support the deployment of Lebanese troops in the south while strengthening regional stability.
Aoun's visit took place after the sixth round of Lebanese-Israeli negotiations mediated by the United States ended in Rome on Wednesday (15/7).
Beirut and Tel Aviv signed a framework agreement mediated by the United States on June 26, 2026.
The agreement stipulates the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from all occupied Lebanese territories, starting through a pilot model in two zones whose identities have not been made public.
The agreement does not set a deadline for the withdrawal of Israeli forces. The completion of the process is linked to the readiness of the Lebanese Armed Forces to take full responsibility for security in the vacated areas as well as the disarmament of armed groups, which refers to the Hezbollah group in Lebanon.
According to official Lebanese government data, Israeli attacks in Lebanon since March 2 have killed more than 4,300 people and injured around 12,200 others.