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Published: 2026-09-17T06:22:06.874Z • Permanent link

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to host a high-level meeting with European and Arab military chiefs in Paris on Thursday to discuss bolstering Lebanon's struggling armed forces. The meeting comes as the mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon is set to expire at the end of the year. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has been operating in the region since 1978, with the aim of maintaining peace and stability.

According to sources, the meeting will bring together key military leaders from France, Germany, Italy, and Saudi Arabia, among others. French Defense Minister Florence Parly will lead the French delegation, while Saudi Arabia's Deputy Defense Minister, Lieutenant General Miteb bin Abdullah, is expected to attend. The talks will focus on ways to strengthen the Lebanese military, which has been weakened by years of civil war and sectarian divisions. The meeting will also touch on the issue of Hezbollah, the Shia militant group that has been a major obstacle to peace in the region.

The meeting is seen as a response to growing concerns about the stability of Lebanon, which has been plagued by protests and violence in recent months. The Lebanese military has been struggling to maintain order, with the government facing opposition from rival factions and extremist groups. The international community has called for a more robust response to the crisis, with the UN and other organizations urging greater support for the Lebanese military.

The meeting in Paris has significant implications for the Data Sources domain, which covers military and defense issues in the Middle East. Companies such as Thales, Airbus, and Leonardo will be watching the talks closely, as they have significant interests in the region. Research communities and analysts will also be monitoring the situation, as it has the potential to shape the future of military operations in the Middle East.

The meeting also has implications for markets in the region, which have been volatile in recent months. The Lebanese pound has been experiencing significant fluctuations, with the value of the currency dropping by over 50% in the past year. The crisis in Lebanon has also had a knock-on effect on the broader Middle East, with protests and violence spreading to other countries in the region. The international community will be watching the situation closely, with many investors and analysts predicting a significant impact on regional markets.

The meeting in Paris is part of a larger pattern of international engagement in the Middle East, which has been marked by competing approaches and conflicting interests. The US and its allies have been pushing for a more robust response to the crisis in Lebanon, with the aim of countering Iranian influence in the region. However, other countries such as France and Germany have been taking a more cautious approach, urging greater diplomacy and dialogue to resolve the crisis.