Lebanese President Aoun’s Riyadh Visit Spurs Saudi Review of Lebanese Import Ban

Riyadh may resume Lebanese imports and lift tourist ban as Lebanese President Joseph Aoun visits Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia seeks to clear the path for resuming Lebanese imports and permitting Saudis to visit Lebanon, as hinted by a joint statement released following Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).

President Aoun’s visit on Tuesday, his first since assuming office in January, signals a renewed Saudi interest in Lebanese affairs after a pause due to the influence of Iran-backed Hezbollah.

The official Saudi Press Agency’s statement highlights that both sides agreed to examine barriers preventing the flow of exports from Lebanon and the necessary actions to enable Saudi citizen’s travel to Lebanon.

In 2021, Saudi Arabia suspended Lebanese fruit and vegetable imports in response to alleged drug smuggling, causing rifts in their relations and impacting Lebanon’s economy, given that Saudi Arabia was the top destination for Lebanese agricultural exports in 2019, absorbing 22.1 percent.

Additionally, permission from the Saudi government became a prerequisite for Saudis wanting to visit Lebanon from 2021.

The joint statement also emphasized the need for Israel’s army to withdraw from Lebanese territory as per a November ceasefire agreement.

Last week, Israel signalled its forces staying indefinitely within a “buffer zone,” ignoring the February 18 deadline for complete withdrawal from Lebanon.

President Aoun arrived in Riyadh earlier Monday, marking a historic visit as the first Lebanese head of state to visit Saudi Arabia in eight years.

In an interview with Asharq al-Awsat, Aoun expressed a desire to revive military aid that Riyadh discontinued in 2016 due to Hezbollah’s influence.