The diplomatic crisis between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia, which has been dragging since October 2021, seems to finally come to an end with reports of the Saudi Ambassador Walid Bukhari coming back to Lebanon to resume his diplomatic position in Beirut.
The decision ensued after Prime Minister Najib Mikati said in a statement that his government is ready to end “all Lebanon-based political, military, security and media activities that harm the sovereignty, security, and stability of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.”
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia both responded with a constructive stance.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry announced that it “welcomes the positive points” in the statement of the Lebanese Primer Minister, hoping that “this will contribute” to Lebanon restoring its “role and status on the Arab and international arenas.”
It added that “the Ministry affirmed the kingdom’s aspiration for security and peace to prevail in Lebanon and for the Lebanese people to enjoy security, stability, development, and prosperity.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes the positive points contained in the Lebanese Prime Minister’s statement, and hopes that this will contribute to #Lebanon’s restoration of its role and status on the Arab and international arenas. pic.twitter.com/9HroAZVxVC
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) March 22, 2022
PM Mikati committed in his statement that Lebanon’s authorities will seek to prevent the smuggling of illegal substances to Saudi Arabia.
He also stated that his government will start working on “barring the use of Lebanese financial and banking channels to conduct any financial transactions that might harm the security of Saudi Arabia and the GCC countries”.
The decision by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expected to lead to the restoration of Lebanon’s diplomatic relations with the other Arab Gulf States that have also boycotted Lebanon, including banning its imports and ambassadors.
