Lebanon’s newly-elected President Joseph Aoun announced on Saturday that his first foreign visit will be to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The invitation was extended during a phone conversation where the Saudi leader congratulated Aoun on his election and discussed strengthening bilateral ties, according to a statement from the Lebanese presidency.
Aoun, formerly Lebanon’s army chief, was elected as the country’s 14th president on Thursday after more than two years of presidential vacancy. He secured 99 out of 128 parliamentary votes in the second round of elections.
Following his victory, Aoun was sworn in at the parliament in Beirut, where he pledged reforms, emphasizing the need for judicial independence and zero tolerance for corruption and organized crime.
Political deadlock had left Lebanon without a president since former President Michel Aoun's term ended in October 2022, with 12 failed electoral sessions before a new leader was chosen. Joseph Aoun, unrelated to Michel Aoun, is seen as favored by the United States and Saudi Arabia, key players in Lebanon’s reconstruction efforts after a prolonged conflict with Israel.
