Qatar PM-FM meets Lebanese leaders in Beirut to discuss energy cooperation, regional stability

During meetings with Lebanese leaders in Beirut, Qatar’s PM-FM Sheikh Mohammed reaffirmed support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, called for Israeli withdrawal and announced plans for a major QatarEnergy solar project.

Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, reaffirmed Doha’s support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and national institutions during talks with the country’s senior political and security officials in Beirut on Friday.

The Qatar PM-FM called for Israeli forces to withdraw from occupied Lebanese territory as he discussed energy cooperation, regional de-escalation and reconstruction efforts with the Lebanese officials.

“First of all, the important issue for us was the bilateral relations between the two countries and how we can work on joint projects that will contribute to the security and stability of the region and its prosperity in the future,”  Sheikh Mohammed said in a press briefing on Friday.

During a media conference with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Friday, Sheikh Mohammed said that QatarEnergy plans to establish a “massive” solar power plant in Lebanon, which has faced severe energy crises in recent years.

Salam said the project would integrate different energy production sources with the infrastructure needed to support them, aiming to provide electricity more quickly, reliably and at a lower cost.

“It is an integrated project covering the various sources of energy production and the infrastructure required to support them, with the aim of providing electricity more quickly, reliably and at a lower cost,” said Salam.

Qatar PM-FM calls for Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon

Sheikh Mohammed also reaffirmed Qatar’s support for measures taken by the Lebanese state, calling for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied territories and their handover to the Lebanese army.

“Of course, Qatar supports all the steps Lebanon is taking and supports the direction of the Lebanese state, including the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation army from the occupied territories and their handover to the Lebanese army, which the State of Qatar will continue to support in the future,” he added.

Despite a framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel signed in June, with the objective of securing Israel’s phased withdrawal from Lebanon, Israel has continued to occupy large parts of Lebanon’s south, where it has systematically demolished homes and infrastructure in dozens of villages.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has previously said that his country’s troops will not be withdrawn from Lebanon, suggesting an extended occupation similar to the last Israeli occupation, which lasted 22 years.

Lebanon thanks Qatar

According to a statement from the Lebanese Presidency, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun thanked Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the Qatari government for their continued support for Lebanon, praising Doha’s efforts to promote regional stability through dialogue and de-escalation. 

Aoun called on Qatar to continue working with Arab and friendly countries to press Israel to halt its attacks in southern Lebanon and implement the framework agreement reached through U.S.-sponsored negotiations between Lebanon and Israel.

The Lebanese President also highlighted opportunities for cooperation in various sectors, welcoming Qatar’s readiness to help address Lebanon’s electricity crisis.

Aoun condemned attacks on Gulf countries, including recent attacks on Saudi Arabia, and reaffirmed Lebanon’s solidarity with Gulf states.

He highlighted the casualties and destruction caused by continued Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon, thanking Sheikh Mohammed for his visit and describing it as a message of Qatar’s support and hope for the Lebanese people.

Also present at the meeting were Lebanon’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Youssef Rajji and Qatar’s Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed Al-Khulaifi.