Report: Mashnouq to Hold 'Significant Political, Security Talks' during Visit to U.S.

Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq is scheduled to travel to the United State next week to hold a series of political and security meetings with a number of American officials, reported al-Akhbar newspaper on Saturday.

The minister's sources told the daily that the visit “will be very important on the political and security levels.”

“His meetings will tackle ways to activate security cooperation between Lebanon and the U.S., specifically in combating terrorism,” they continued.

Talks will also focus on U.S. military assistance to Lebanon and the possibility of increasing it given the extremist threat along the Lebanese-Syrian border, they added.

Furthermore, the Lebanese delegation will also highlight Lebanon's need for more support in harboring Syrian refugees.

Lebanon last received military assistance from the U.S. in February.

It included military vehicles, weapons and ammunition to Lebanon as part of Washington's pledge to aid the Lebanese military in its combat against terrorists.

Other shipments as part of the U.S. military assistance program took place on January 27, August 29, and September 6 and 26.

The arms deliveries come as several allies of Lebanon step up efforts to bolster its armed forces as the threat from jihadists in the region grows.

In 2014, Lebanon was the fifth largest recipient of U.S. foreign military aid.

"In 2014 alone, the United States provided over $100 million to the (Lebanese military), adding to the $1 billion in assistance provided... since 2006," said a U.S. embassy statement in February.

M.T.