The designated Prime Minister Saad Hariri discussed regional developments and France's efforts to prepare international support for Lebanon with French President Emmanuel Macron.
The National News Agency reported that President Saad Hariri and President Emmanuel Macron recently met for a working dinner at the French presidential palace in Paris, the Élysée. The two-hour meeting focused on the latest regional developments and Hariri's efforts to restore Lebanon's relationships with Arab countries and garner support in facing the crises confronting the nation. They also discussed France's and Macron's efforts to prepare international support for Lebanon once a government capable of implementing necessary reforms to halt the economic collapse is formed and to rebuild what was destroyed in Beirut due to the port explosion last August.
The two presidents addressed the internal Lebanese difficulties hindering government formation and explored possible solutions to overcome them. Contrary to what has been circulated, Hariri was not successful during his visit to Cairo in persuading the Egyptian leadership to issue a significant statement regarding the Lebanese crisis; the most he achieved was the inclusion of a "request for urging" the Lebanese parties to complete government formation. It is noted that Cairo is not inclined to leave the realm of "urging" nor is it ready to take greater risks in the "quicksand" that President Macron previously sank into.
In Cairo, Hariri did not manage to pave his way toward Riyadh, and the same situation applies to Abu Dhabi, which is hoped to achieve something in mediation for Hariri, who is returning there a few weeks after his last visit. However, it seems, based on available information, that no breakthrough has been made, and the French side has been informed of the outcome of communications with the Saudi side, which is still requesting delays and sharing some aspects of the Lebanese file with the Emirati side, to reasonable limits, on the basis of managing the Lebanese affairs. Herein lies Riyadh's fear of not leaving the file unattended due to concerns about it falling into the hands of Ankara.
It appears that reaching an understanding with Saudi Arabia regarding the Lebanese file is not yet within reach, which is what President Macron will attempt to resolve during his anticipated visit to Riyadh. If "Macron's camel" arrives, then "Hariri's she-camel" will land in the realms of Riyadh, where the agreement will be finalized. Until then, the government issue remains suspended, and complications have increased due to the entanglements related to the assassination file of Salim, which contains elements of sabotage that will affect the government.
