Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has said that Lebanon is counting on Türkiye to contribute to its economic recovery, support the implementation of the US-mediated framework agreement and help strengthen stability in southern Lebanon.
In an exclusive interview with Anadolu on Wednesday ahead of his first official visit to Türkiye on Thursday since taking office in January 2025, Aoun said Lebanese-Turkish relations have “the potential to move to advanced levels of cooperation.”
“Türkiye has a central position in the current regional scene, and coordination with it is a strategic necessity, not a temporary option,” he said.
Lebanon and Israel signed the US-sponsored framework agreement on June 26. The deal provides for a gradual Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese territory in return for the deployment of the Lebanese army there, along with the disarmament of armed groups, including Hezbollah.
“Türkiye’s NATO membership and broad regional ties qualify it to play a supportive role in the international promotion of the framework formula and to encourage relevant parties to fully comply with its terms,” Aoun said.
“Türkiye can contribute to the success of this track, especially since the framework that emerged from negotiation rounds in Washington and Rome requires broad regional and international follow-up to ensure its implementation on the ground,” he added.
The Lebanese president stressed that Beirut is committed to implementing the framework agreement.
“But the success of this agreement depends on clear guarantees, foremost among them a full Israeli withdrawal that is simultaneous with the deployment of the Lebanese army, a permanent halt to violations and attacks in the south, and an effective international mechanism to verify both sides’ compliance, so that Lebanese commitments do not become a unilateral step in the absence of a corresponding Israeli move,” Aoun said.
Economic recovery
On the economic front, Aoun said Lebanon is counting on Türkiye to contribute to economic recovery in Lebanon through investment, trade and reconstruction.
“This could be done by encouraging Turkish companies to pump direct investments into Lebanon’s productive sectors, activating existing trade agreements, removing logistical obstacles to the exchange of goods in a way that eases the burden on Lebanon’s struggling economy, and benefiting from Türkiye’s wide experience in reconstruction,” he said.
On military cooperation, Aoun said the Lebanese army needs multi-level support to strengthen its deployment and extend state authority.
“The Lebanese army is facing an existential challenge in extending the state’s authority over all its territory,” he said. “This requires multi-faceted support: modern equipment and gear, specialised training, and logistical support that enables it to deploy effectively in sensitive areas, especially in the south, where its deployment is supposed to coincide with a full and simultaneous Israeli withdrawal.
Aoun said he will raise with the Turkish side the possibility of expanding the existing military support and training programs, especially since Ankara has shown readiness to contribute to strengthening the capabilities of the Lebanese military institution.
“But at the same time, we emphasise that any Turkish support comes in addition to existing US and international support, not as an alternative to it,” he said.
Syria ties
Asked about Hezbollah’s rejection of any negotiating track with Israel and its impact on efforts to implement ceasefire understandings and address outstanding issues, Aoun said: “The size of this challenge cannot be underestimated, as any negotiation or implementation track needs a minimum level of internal consensus to succeed on the ground.”
“The Lebanese state, represented by the presidency and the government, is the only party constitutionally authorised to make decisions related to sovereignty, security and foreign relations, and this is what we constantly insist on,” he said.
On reports about a possible Syrian role or mediation in placing weapons under Lebanese state control, despite repeated denials by Damascus, Aoun said: “The decision to place arms solely in the hands of the Lebanese state is an exclusively Lebanese sovereign decision.”
“There is no room for any mediation or external interference in it, whether Syrian or otherwise,” he added.
