Report: France Seeks to Revive Saudi Aid to Lebanese Army
France is insisting on reviving a $3 billion Saudi grant to the Lebanese army despite Riyadh’s decision to cut the aid, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Monday.
The Saudi government confirmed last week that it has stopped all military aid to Lebanon.
There are deals worth $4 billion aimed at equipping and supporting the Lebanese army and security forces.
One of the Saudi-financed deals is worth $3 billion under which France would provide arms and equipment to the Lebanese army.
Al-Joumhouria said that Paris provided guarantees to Riyadh that the weapons would be delivered to the army and would not go to any other side, especially Hizbullah.
In April last year, Lebanon received the first shipment of the $3 billion worth of French arms to boost the country's defensive capabilities to combat terror threats, along its northeastern border in particular.
The Saudi aid cut was followed by a call by Riyadh and other Gulf states on their citizens not to travel to Lebanon for safety reasons and ordered those staying there to leave.
The move sparked fears of deportations of Lebanese residing in the Gulf.
Al-Joumhouria said that the U.S., France and Canada have launched contacts with the Saudi authorities over the issue because many Lebanese working there hold the citizenship of these states.
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