Lebanon's president said Monday that he hopes to strengthen ties with Saudi Arabia during a visit to the kingdom following years of strained relations between the countries. Joseph Aoun became Lebanon's first head of state to visit Riyadh in six years.

For more than two years, Lebanon has been paralysed. The previous president, Michel Aoun, left office in October 2022. Parliament could not agree on a replacement. With no head of state, no one could appoint a prime minister. A caretaker cabinet was left to manage the country during a financial crisis and a war with Israel.

Saudi Arabia will review “obstacles” to resuming Lebanese imports and ending a ban on its nationals visiting Lebanon, the two governments said. The announcement was made in a joint statement released after Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) in Riyadh on Tuesday – Aoun’s first trip abroad since taking office in January.

Lebanon’s president has ended a visit to Saudi Arabia where he discussed regional affairs with the kingdom’s crown prince.

Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun will ask Saudi Arabia to reactivate a $3-billion aid package to the Lebanese army in his visit to the kingdom next week, Aoun said in an interview with Asharq television broadcast on Friday.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun arrived in Riyadh on Monday afternoon on his first official foreign visit nearly two months after being elected as president of the country.

Lebanon’s president ended a visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday where he discussed regional affairs with the kingdom’s crown prince after which both