The senior defense officials from Europe and the Arab World met on Thursday in the French capital to discuss the capacities of the Lebanese Armed Forces.
The meeting in Paris follows the efforts by countries to prepare for the end of the United Nations peacekeeping mandate in the South of Lebanon, following increased security concerns in the region.
The talks were opened by French President Emmanuel Macron, and Lebanon’s Joseph Aoun and Jordan’s King Abdullah II. While Washington was represented by a senior military delegate overseeing Middle Eastern operations, diplomats noted that the forum operated outside parallel U.S.-led political negotiations.
Participants focused primarily on establishing non-UN bilateral and multilateral frameworks designed to reinforce Lebanon’s official military apparatus.
Discussions centered on evaluating potential European Union-led initiatives or coalitions spearheaded by France and Italy. Rather than replacing peacekeeping combat elements directly, the proposed strategies prioritize equipping, training, sharing intelligence, and mentoring Lebanese troops.
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French officials acknowledged that finalizing the scope of international engagement remains complex, particularly as domestic political requirements in Beirut differ from security parameters debated at the UN Security Council.
The summit takes place against a fragile security backdrop characterized by persistent cross-border exchanges despite a previous ceasefire agreement.
Recent military strikes in southern Lebanon have heightened international anxieties regarding a potential re-escalation between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants.
Diplomats caution that upcoming political elections in both Washington and Tel Aviv make a comprehensive diplomatic breakthrough unlikely in the near term, placing greater urgency on bolstering local security structures.
Organizers view the gathering as a foundational step toward defining future security arrangements, with a broader international donor conference anticipated between late 2026 and early 2027 to secure formal financial commitments.
