Lebanon Chairs Near East Group at FAO… UAE Hosts, Sudan Registers Reservation

Lebanon Leads Near East Group at FAO 2026

Lebanon has assumed the presidency of the Near East Regional Group at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for 2026 during the group’s regular meeting at the organization’s headquarters in Rome. The presidency officially transferred from the delegation of Kuwait to the delegation of the Republic of Lebanon, while Iraq was selected as the group’s vice-chair.

Ambassador Carla Jazar reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to working in a spirit of consensus, strengthening group unity, and following up on priority issues, including institutional reforms within the organization that consider the interests and developmental and food-specific needs of Near East countries. Member states expressed full support for Lebanon, emphasizing the importance of coordination and collective action to enhance the region’s presence in decision-making.

UAE Hosting and Sudanese Reservation

It was also announced that the United Arab Emirates will host the FAO regional conference on April 20–21, while the Sudanese delegate registered a reservation without affecting the preparations. Lebanon’s assumption of the presidency comes at a time requiring strengthened regional coordination on food security, sustainable agricultural development, and climate change mitigation.

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