Ortagoos: Two Options for the Lebanese Government, Other Issues to Be Discussed Later

U.S. Deputy Envoy to the Middle East, Morgan Ortagus, confirmed that the future of cooperation between her country and Lebanon depends on the Lebanese government’s stance on Hezbollah’s weapons. In press statements, she stated that the Lebanese authorities and people “must choose between coordinating with Washington to implement a ceasefire and combat corruption, or hesitating and losing support and partnership.”

Ortagus emphasized that assigning the Lebanese army responsibility for maintaining security would help reduce external influences on Lebanon’s decisions, urging swift action on this front.

She added that the current priorities of the U.S. administration are focused on calming tensions and addressing economic challenges, paving the way for a later phase that may include discussions on border issues and pending points with Israel, while clarifying that the issue of normalization “is not on the table now.”

Ortagus also pointed out that Lebanese President Michel Aoun did not oppose the idea of forming three diplomatic committees to handle the issues of detainees, border demarcation, and the Israeli withdrawal from certain areas.

Earlier, following her meeting with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Ortagus called for an agreement between Lebanon and the International Monetary Fund.