High-level dialogue has been established between Lebanon and Syria, two countries whose fates are intertwined but whose histories are burdened with the disputes that have accumulated between them. Accompanied by three ministers, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam was received in Damascus on Monday, April 14, by Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa. The prime minister stated on X that a "new chapter" was opening in their relations, "based on mutual respect, the restoration of trust, good neighborliness (...) and non-interference in each other's affairs."

This official visit occurred as Saudi Arabia seeks to regain its influence in both Lebanon and Syria following several upheavals in the region: the weakening of Hezbollah in Lebanon after the war with Israel, in the autumn of 2024, and the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December. At the end of March, Riyadh sponsored an agreement between the Lebanese and Syrian defense ministers to secure their shared border, which stretches over 300 kilometers. This coordination is set to be strengthened, according to Beirut.

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