Lebanese premier set to visit Syria on Monday to boost bilateral relations

BEIRUT / ANKARA

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is set to visit Syria on Monday for talks with President Ahmed al-Sharaa to boost ties between the two countries, a Lebanese source close to the premier said on Sunday.

The source told Anadolu that Salam will be accompanied by Defense Minister Michel Menassah, Interior Minister Ahmad Al-Hajjar, and Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji during his trip.

“This visit is meant to strengthen ties and correct the course of relations with the new Syrian authorities,” the source said.

He added that the visit aims to establish a “healthy and respectful framework” for relations between the two neighbors.

Key issues on the agenda include tightening border controls, combating smuggling, securing all official crossings, closing illegal ones, and preventing further clashes along the border.

The talks will also include discussions on a Saudi-led initiative for border demarcation between the two nations, the source said.

The refugee crisis will be another major point of discussion, particularly ways to facilitate the return of Syrian refugees currently residing in Lebanon.

The source also confirmed that economic investment opportunities will be discussed, along with the longstanding issue of Lebanese nationals who went missing during the era of the now-deposed Baath regime.

Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on Dec. 8, 2024, Syria’s new leadership has focused on restoring internal stability and regaining control over its borders, especially with Lebanon.

The urgency for closer cooperation was heightened after a border incident in mid-March, when Syria’s Defense Ministry accused the Lebanese group Hezbollah of kidnapping and killing three of its soldiers, an accusation the group has denied.

The Lebanon-Syria border, which stretches approximately 375 kilometers (233 miles) is known for its complex geography and includes six official land crossings.