Blinken Pushes for Resolution to Lebanon’s Leadership Crisis \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ With Hezbollah’s leadership under pressure from Israeli military strikes, the U.S. sees a potential opportunity to resolve Lebanon’s long-standing political deadlock. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is leading diplomatic efforts, speaking with Lebanese and international leaders about the importance of electing a new president and stabilizing the country. U.S. officials hope that resolving Lebanon’s political crisis could reduce tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border and shift Hezbollah’s focus away from conflict.
U.S. Push for Lebanon Stability Amid Hezbollah Setbacks Quick Looks:
- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is spearheading efforts to resolve Lebanon’s two-year political deadlock, intensified by Hezbollah’s recent losses due to Israeli military actions.
- Blinken held discussions with Lebanese leaders about electing a new president and stabilizing the region, emphasizing the need for internal resolution free from external interference.
- Washington is coordinating with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, France, and other international partners to push for political reforms and address Lebanon’s ongoing economic crisis.
- The political vacuum, combined with the devastating effects of Hezbollah’s influence, has left Lebanon in a deep economic and social crisis, with three-quarters of the population living in poverty.
- As the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalates, U.S. officials see an opportunity to diminish Hezbollah’s influence and strengthen Lebanon’s political institutions.
Deep Look:
As Hezbollah’s senior leadership faces severe blows from Israeli military operations, the United States sees a possible window of opportunity to resolve Lebanon’s long-standing political deadlock. Israeli sabotage and airstrikes targeting key Hezbollah figures have weakened the Iran-backed militant group, which wields significant political power in Lebanon. With this shift, some in Washington believe the time is ripe to break Lebanon’s two-year political impasse and encourage reforms that could ease regional tensions.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has taken the lead in this diplomatic push. On Friday, Blinken held separate phone calls with Lebanon’s acting Prime Minister Najib Mikati and parliament speaker Nabih Berri, stressing the urgent need for Lebanon to elect a new president after the position has remained vacant for two years. “The presidency has been vacant for two years now, and for the Lebanese people, having a head of state would be very important,” Blinken said in remarks during his visit to Laos. He emphasized that Lebanon’s future must be determined by its own people, without undue influence from external powers like the U.S. or Israel.
This renewed diplomatic effort comes at a critical time. Lebanon’s political system, based on a sectarian power-sharing arrangement, has been paralyzed since the end of former President Michel Aoun’s term in October 2022. Multiple attempts by Lebanon’s parliament to elect a successor have failed, largely due to Hezbollah’s backing of Christian politician Sleiman Frangieh, while the opposition supports various other candidates. Frangieh’s main challenger, though he has not officially declared his candidacy, is widely seen as General Joseph Aoun, the commander of the Lebanese army, who is viewed as close to the U.S.
The U.S. and its allies have long sought to diminish Hezbollah’s influence in Lebanon’s political and military spheres. Despite being designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., Israel, and several other countries, Hezbollah is recognized as a legitimate political party in Lebanon and has been a key player in the country’s governance for nearly two decades. Its deep ties to Iran and its powerful militia have made it difficult for external actors to push for political reforms in Lebanon without triggering a backlash.
However, with Hezbollah’s infrastructure and leadership under heavy pressure from Israeli military strikes, U.S. officials believe there may be a rare opportunity to move the political process forward. Blinken has been in constant communication with international leaders, including his counterparts in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and France, to discuss how Lebanon can emerge from its political paralysis and reduce tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border.
This week, Blinken spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed Al Thani, and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot about the situation in Lebanon, focusing on the importance of electing a president to restore stability. The U.S. believes that getting Lebanon’s political house in order could help shift Hezbollah’s forces away from Israel’s northern border, where tensions have been rising since the militant group began firing rockets into Israel in solidarity with Hamas following the October 7 attacks.
Lebanon’s internal political stalemate is exacerbating the country’s ongoing economic crisis, which has seen three-quarters of the population fall into poverty. With inflation soaring and the Lebanese currency in freefall, the country’s social services have collapsed, leading to widespread despair and unrest. Hezbollah’s entrenchment in Lebanon’s political system has made it difficult for reformist voices to break through, but U.S. officials believe that this moment may offer a chance for progress.
The U.S. has pushed for years to resolve the political deadlock in Lebanon, but efforts have been stymied by the complex power-sharing system that divides political authority along religious lines. Lebanon’s political landscape is deeply fragmented, with factions aligned with Hezbollah and its Iranian backers, while others are supported by Western and Gulf nations.
The deadlock has left Lebanon without a functioning government capable of addressing the country’s mounting challenges, and the presidential vacuum has further destabilized the nation. Since former President Michel Aoun’s departure, the Lebanese parliament has met several times to try to elect a new head of state, but all efforts have failed. Hezbollah’s preferred candidate, Sleiman Frangieh, is aligned with the group’s Shiite bloc, but he lacks the broad support needed to win a majority in parliament. Meanwhile, General Joseph Aoun, who commands widespread respect and is seen as a potential unifying figure, has yet to officially enter the race.
For the U.S., the hope is that resolving Lebanon’s political crisis will help shift the focus from Hezbollah’s military activities along the border with Israel to stabilizing the country internally. Blinken has stressed that the future of Lebanon must be decided through democratic means that reflect the will of the Lebanese people. “What I’m getting from these conversations is a strong desire not only on the part of the many countries that are concerned about Lebanon but especially the Lebanese themselves to actually see the state stand up, assert itself, take responsibility for the lives of its citizens,” Blinken said during his discussions in Laos.
International Efforts and U.N. Resolution
The U.N. resolution that ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah called for Israeli forces to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon and for the Lebanese army and U.N. peacekeepers to assume control of the area. However, Hezbollah’s presence along the border has remained strong, with the group continuing to build military infrastructure in violation of the U.N. resolution. The U.S. hopes that resolving Lebanon’s political paralysis could help enforce the terms of the resolution and prevent further escalation.
Ed Gabriel, president of the American Task Force on Lebanon, echoed the need for Lebanon to resolve its internal political issues independently. “We do not think it is in the interest of Lebanon for outside parties to weigh in on the country’s sovereign right to elect their own president,” Gabriel said. He added that there is now an opportunity for Lebanon’s parliament to convene and elect “a clean, competent, and reform-oriented president who can steer Lebanon through what is a dangerous but critical phase.”
While some in Washington are cautiously optimistic about the chances for progress, others remain skeptical. Hezbollah’s deep-rooted influence in Lebanon’s political, military, and social systems makes it difficult to envision a scenario where the group willingly relinquishes its power. However, even those who doubt the possibility of significant change acknowledge that the current moment, marked by Hezbollah’s setbacks and the growing discontent among the Lebanese population, represents a rare opportunity to push for reform.
As Blinken prepares to attend an international conference on Lebanon later this month, organized by France, U.S. officials hope that the gathering will provide a platform to rally global support for Lebanon’s recovery. The conference aims to bring together international actors, including France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the U.S., to discuss ways to help Lebanon move forward from its political deadlock and economic collapse.
Conclusion:
The challenges facing Lebanon are immense, with political paralysis, economic devastation, and Hezbollah’s entrenchment all contributing to the country’s instability. However, with Hezbollah weakened by Israeli strikes and a growing international push for political reform, U.S. officials see a window of opportunity to help Lebanon find a path forward. Whether this moment will lead to a breakthrough remains to be seen, but for now, Washington and its allies are cautiously optimistic that Lebanon may be able to emerge from its current crisis.
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