The American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL), a leadership organization of Lebanese-Americans working to support and strengthen the US-Lebanon relationship, is pleased with the statement issued after President Joe Biden’s trip to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in which “[both countries] affirmed their continued support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, and their support for the Lebanese Armed Forces.”

The US-Saudi Arabia joint communique clearly “noted the importance of forming a Lebanese government and implementing comprehensive structural political and economic reforms to ensure that Lebanon overcomes its political and economic crisis.” It went on to emphasize the need for government control over all Lebanese territory and made reference to relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the Taif Accord so that “there will be no weapons without the consent of the government of Lebanon.”

The President of ATFL, former Ambassador Ed Gabriel, is currently visiting Lebanon where he is reaffirming the need for reforms required by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in order to release funds needed for Lebanon’s recovery from what has been termed one of the worst economic disasters since the mid-19th century. He is also emphasizing the need to support the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) as the guarantor of Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

ATFL applauds the Biden administration for continuing to focus on US-Lebanon relations and to support the needs of the Lebanese people in these exceedingly difficult times.