Lebanon's Aoun to Meet Trump, Discuss Hezbollah Disarmament

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is set to meet with US President Donald Trump this week, marking the first visit by a Lebanese head of state to the White House in nearly 20 years. The visit is expected to include discussions on the situation in Lebanon and ways to consolidate the ceasefire, as well as Israel's withdrawal from Lebanese areas it occupies.

Aoun, who previously served as the commander of Lebanon's US-backed army before being elected president, is expected to present the Trump administration with a written proposal on how to decommission Hezbollah's massive arsenal. A Lebanese official stated that Aoun believes only Trump possesses the leverage needed to pressure Israel to withdraw its troops and help Lebanon restore its sovereignty.

Despite Aoun and Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's messaging about creating a monopoly on weapons, they have not yet moved to disarm Hezbollah. Instead, some Palestinian factions were disarmed last year. Lebanon's political landscape, characterized by sectarian politics and aging politicians, makes any significant change challenging.

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