U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that he and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun would discuss “very concrete plans” on how the United States can help Lebanon reduce the influence of Hezbollah, while signaling broader international support for the effort.
Speaking alongside Aoun in the Oval Office, Trump said Washington is working with Lebanon and other partners on initiatives aimed at strengthening the country’s ability to address the armed group’s presence.
“We’re going to discuss that today with your president, and we already have some very concrete plans, with other countries that will be involved and will help. But they’re also becoming much more self-sufficient, and we’ll be talking about that as well,” Trump said, according to CNN.
Trump also commented on the Israeli military’s presence in southern Lebanon, saying the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are “in the process” of withdrawing under an existing agreement.
“That was a great agreement they signed with Lebanon,” Trump said, adding that Israeli forces are “repositioning.”
The remarks come as international efforts continue to support the implementation of security arrangements along the Israel-Lebanon border following months of heightened tensions.
Asked whether he would be willing to engage directly with Hezbollah, Trump said he would not rule out such a possibility.
“I would talk to Hezbollah. I talk to everybody,” Trump said, adding that he would do so if President Aoun requested such discussions.
Trump’s comments underscore Washington’s continued engagement in Lebanon’s security and political landscape, as regional and international actors seek to prevent further escalation and strengthen the authority of the Lebanese state.
