Lebanon’s Joseph Aoun to meet Trump: What to expect

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun arrived in Washington for high-level discussions with the Trump administration aimed at advancing his government's strategic objectives in a volatile regional environment. The timing of the visit coincides with renewed military tensions between the United States and Iran, which threaten to destabilize the Lebanon-Israel border and potentially reignite conflict involving Hezbollah.

Aoun's primary agenda centers on two interconnected goals: securing Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanese territory through diplomatic channels and ensuring the disarmament of Hezbollah. Prior to his meeting with Trump, Aoun met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, where he emphasized the importance of aligning Lebanese and American positions on a proposed trilateral framework. Aoun specifically called for an initial Israeli withdrawal from a designated pilot zone and requested Washington's support for Lebanese state institutions.

Rubio framed American support for the Lebanese government as the most effective strategy for countering Hezbollah's influence and Iran's regional presence. He argued that backing Aoun's administration would enable the Lebanese president to demonstrate tangible results to his diverse constituency—Christians, Sunnis, Shias, Bedouins, and Druze—thereby strengthening the legitimate state apparatus against non-state actors. The secretary of state emphasized that the US would work exclusively with the Lebanese government as the country's rightful authority.

The proposed trilateral framework represents a significant shift in Lebanese security architecture, establishing new political and military parameters. Under the agreement, Lebanon would formally recognize Israel and condition any Israeli withdrawal on Hezbollah's disarmament. However, this framework contradicts an existing memorandum of understanding between Lebanon and Iran, which stipulated an unconditional ceasefire and respect for Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Aoun's critics contend that the Lebanese government lacks sufficient leverage to negotiate effectively with Israel, making reliance on American guarantees essential. The Lebanese president has positioned Trump's administration as the guarantor of any agreement, betting that the US commitment to regional stability will translate into concrete military and economic support for Beirut. The framework aims to remove Lebanon from the broader regional conflict equation, though its success depends on sustained American engagement and Israeli compliance.