King Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, the first prominent Saudi official to visit Lebanon in 15 years, arrived on Thursday. The visit takes place at a crucial juncture for Lebanon, which is making every effort to recover from years of economic collapse, political stalemate, and the fallout from the regional conflict.
Prince Faisal’s trip signified a new phase in the politics of Lebanon because it marked the restoration of Saudi power in a nation long dominated by Iran-backed Hezbollah. This visit was heralded as part of the broader geopolitical changes in the region in light of the defeat Hezbollah suffered last year against Israel and following the ouster of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad by rebel forces in December.
He is most probably going to meet with Joseph Aoun and Nawaf Salam, the newly elected President and Prime Minister-designate of Lebanon, respectively. Both have taken their oaths of office recently and have signaled a fresh start for Lebanon after scores of years in political doldrums.
Saudi Arabia has made it clear that its engagement with Lebanon is contingent on a firm commitment to reform. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this week, Prince Faisal described the election of a Lebanese president after a two-year vacancy as an “extremely positive” step. He emphasized the need for Lebanon to quickly form a government capable of addressing the country’s dire economic crisis and implementing long-overdue reforms.
“Saudi Arabia wants to see Lebanon succeed,” Prince Faisal said in Davos. “But success requires serious commitments to reform, transparency, and governance. We are hopeful that the new leadership will take these steps in the not too distant future.”
Lebanon has been grappling with an unprecedented financial meltdown since 2019, which has left much of the population in poverty and eroded trust in state institutions. Experts point out that Saudi Arabia’s main meeting with the world leaders will also make it possible to acquire funds for its economic postwar. When Prince Faisal meets Lebanon’s top officials it indicates a major change in Middle Eastern politics. Since last year’s war to the Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah’s power, it has waned and Syria, Hezbollah partner Bashar al-Assad, has lost categorial control.
It also allows flecting the seismic reconfiguration of Lebanon’s political front yard landscape with the area. The powerful Iran-backed militia Hezbollah is far less effective than before the military setback it suffered against Israel last year, and its main ally, the Syrian leader, Bashar al-Assad, has collapsed.
As the regional powerbroker Saudi Arabia reasserts itself, it is anticipated that the country is preparing to resist Iranian influence in Lebanon and to promote political elements in line with its vision for stability and reform.
The Gulf is once again here, ready to help Lebanon, however, beyond gimmicks, only if the Lebanese leadership demonstrates that they really are determined to undo Lebanon’s reforms and break away from Hezbollah’s agenda.
Lebanon’s newly appointed leadership are confronted by a huge challenge, not only in the context of large-scale reconstruction €bn+ in cost) but also in finding solutions for a population exhausted by decades of crises. For many Lebanese, Saudi Arabia’s return to the scene brings a flicker of hope.
This is an opportunity for us to mend relations with the Gulf and stand on our feet again,” said Marwan Haddad, Beirut-based economist. However, it is our leaders who need to prove that they can translate the reforms into action, which the international community, and the Lebanese population, have been demanding.
Prince Faisal’s trip may be small in duration, but its consequences will be large. With Lebanon turning to the future, Saudi Arabia may play a decisive role in defining Lebanon’s trajectory toward stability and recovery.
