President Joseph Aoun visited Greece to advance bilateral ties and explore a strategic partnership with the EU, while Lebanon navigates heightened tensions between Greece and Turkey over energy resources and regional influence.
President Joseph Aoun travelled to Athens on August 31 to promote cooperation between Lebanon and Greece and expressed interest in signing a strategic partnership agreement with the European Union. The visit comes as tensions escalate in the eastern Mediterranean between Greece, Cyprus and Israel on one side and Turkey on the other, centring on energy infrastructure and geopolitical influence across a region that stretches from Syria through Cyprus and Lebanon.
Greece signed a defence deal with Israel valued at 3.6 billion dollars for multi-layered air defence systems, described as the largest in Israeli export history. Turkey has moved to establish air defence manufacturing on Saudi territory following Ankara's accession to the Mecca Defence Agreement, with potential expansion that could extend toward Lebanon's borders if Syria joins.
Lebanon faces competing pressures from two regional powers with which it maintains friendly relations. A legal adviser at the European Commission said Lebanon does not see itself as a party to the Turkish-Greek dispute but rather seeks to leverage positive relations with both sides separately to secure political cover and military and economic assistance.
The adviser noted that Lebanese official circles have stated the country occupies a delicate political position requiring good relations with all parties and avoiding antagonising any of them. Lebanon attempts to balance between Turkey and Greece, both NATO members, while steering clear of regional blocs amid its urgent need for international and regional support to restore internal and border stability.
Recent diplomatic moves reflect this direct balancing act, the adviser said, combining development of strategic relations with Greece with vital economic and regional cooperation with Turkey.
