Macron pushes for Lebanese control, regional security, and global energy assurance
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Despite the challenges the Lebanese army faces in disarming Hezbollah, and despite French support for President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Paris maintains that it is the responsibility of the Lebanese authorities to deploy the army where necessary to carry out the disarmament plan as promised by Aoun and Salam.
Paris urges the Lebanese authorities to fulfill their responsibilities despite the challenges of field control, viewing this as essential for Lebanon. France stands ready to support the Lebanese army and authorities with its advanced and comprehensive intelligence capabilities, including the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, currently accompanied by eight frigates capable of monitoring all activity in the region. Paris believes this support will be instrumental in restoring a fundamental principle: state sovereignty over Lebanese territory.
This is not a new French ambition; rather, it reflects what Paris has sought to achieve since 1990, as outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 1559, followed by 1701, and referenced in all subsequent resolutions concerning Lebanon.
Paris believes that UNIFIL, set to withdraw at the end of this summer, must be replaced with an alternative arrangement to prevent a security vacuum. The army and security forces need to maintain control on the ground, and a new framework should be devised immediately, or the situation could become highly dangerous. Consequently, Paris is seeking to reactivate the “mechanism.”
Paris views Hezbollah as acting like a terrorist group but can continue providing urgent humanitarian aid. It has secured commitments from Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia to support the Lebanese people and army as quickly as possible.
Paris regards the initiation of negotiations by Presidents Aoun and Salam with Israel as a positive and courageous step, one that should take place in the absence of any alternative solution.
France places great importance on the phone dialogue organized by Macron between Aoun and Syrian President Ahmad Sharaa, highlighting the frankness of the conversation and Sharaa’s commitment to the Lebanese president to coordinate control of the shared borders. This is crucial for Lebanese sovereignty, particularly as Hezbollah can no longer rely on Syria under Sharaa as it did under Bashar al-Assad.
Paris recognizes the Lebanese caution regarding the risk of internal conflict escalating into civil war but maintains that it is the duty of the Lebanese authorities to prevent Hezbollah from drawing Lebanon into further tragedies, wars, and displacement. Accordingly, the army must be deployed without delay.
Paris sees the negotiations between Lebanon and Israel as a positive development and notes that both Americans and Lebanese agree on France’s presence in the talks. However, Israel must also agree; France can only play a formal role in these negotiations if Israel consents. Regarding the ongoing war involving Israel, the United States and Iran, Paris expects it to be long and costly for the entire world.
Concerning the rising oil prices, Paris believes that guarantees must be obtained from Iran to protect tankers from missiles if they pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Thus, France and some European countries, including Italy, are speaking with Iran to secure these guarantees for passing tankers, whose insurance costs have reached 250 million dollars.
French President Emmanuel Macron held a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who confirmed that the oil pipeline from eastern Saudi Arabia to Yanbu transports two million barrels daily, with Saudi Arabia increasing this amount from its existing stockpile. France provided assistance to Saudi Arabia in countering drones.