Baabda:President Joseph Aoun met with U.S. Senator James Lankford and French Ambassador Patrick Durel to discuss key diplomatic and economic issues affecting Lebanon.

According to National news agency - Lebanon, Senator Lankford visited Lebanon to assess the country's situation. During talks, President Aoun and the senator addressed the ongoing developments in southern Lebanon, highlighting Israel's continued aggression and non-compliance with the "Framework Agreement." President Aoun reiterated Lebanon's commitment to the agreement and emphasized the need for Israel to cease its destructive actions and ensure the return of detainees. He also underscored the Lebanese army's active role in maintaining security in the south and throughout the country, calling for international support in terms of equipment and resources.

The discussions also covered Lebanon's commitment to economic reforms, Lebanese-Syrian relations, and the status of displaced Syrians. President Aoun expressed the importance of strengthening Lebanese-American relations across various sectors.

In his meeting with French Ambassador Durel, President Aoun explored ways to bolster Lebanese-French relations and discussed investment opportunities, particularly in the energy sector with companies like TotalEnergies. The talks also addressed the post-UNIFIL phase, with Ambassador Durel underscoring France's commitment to preventing a security vacuum.

Ambassador Durel congratulated Lebanon on the agreement for the ports of Beirut and Tripoli to join the IMEC Economic Corridor network. President Aoun hailed the agreement as a significant step for Lebanon's partnerships and trade development.

In a separate meeting, President Aoun welcomed the Lebanese Muay Thai Federation and its athletes, who recently achieved notable success on the international stage. He praised their accomplishments and highlighted the role of sports in fostering community cooperation and trust.