Brussels, 19 December 2024
On 18 December 2024, the G7 gathered in a virtual G7 Defense Policy Directors’ Working Group on coordinating and increasing support to the Lebanese Armed Forces. The European Union took part to the meeting, which was convened at the initiative of United States Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Dr. Celeste Wallander together with Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
The Group is an outcome of the G7 Defense Ministerial meeting hosted by Italy in October, when the G7 Defense Ministers agreed to form a sub-Ministerial working group on support to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).
During the meeting, participants affirmed the critical stabilizing role of the Lebanese Armed Forces, the importance of restoring security for the Lebanese people, and the central role of UNIFIL, particularly for the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1701.
The European Union is actively supporting Lebanon’s stabilisation and recovery. In July, the EU put forward a package of 1 billion euro for the period 2024-2027, which included 90 million euros for multi-agency support to the security sector.
Through the European Peace Facility, the EU already committed 22 million euros so far to support the Lebanese Armed Forces. The latest assistance measure in 2024 enables the delivery of individual, engineering and medical equipment and rations. Through this support, the EU intends to contribute to foster the Lebanese Armed Forces’ ability to deploy in the South, where they must become the only military force present.
The EU is engaged to increase the security and defence assistance to Lebanon in 2025, to accelerate support to its stabilization and strengthen sustainable peace prospects.
Source – EEAS