Supporting Lebanon’s New Leadership and Strengthening U.S.-Lebanon Relations
United States Congress
U.S.-Lebanon Friendship Caucus
Washington, D.C.
January 28, 2025
President Donald J. Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear President Trump,
As Co-Chairs of the U.S.-Lebanon Friendship Caucus in Congress, we look forward to working with you and your Administration to advance the interests of the United States and its partners in the Middle East.
As you may know, we represent engaged and active constituent communities from the Lebanese diaspora in our districts and take great pride in our Lebanese American heritage. In Congress, we have championed efforts to support stability in Lebanon as a U.S. partner, advocated for responsible funding of the Lebanese Armed Forces, and prioritized the elimination of Hezbollah and Iran’s malign influence in the region.
In recent weeks, Lebanon has undergone significant political shifts. A ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel has taken effect, and after more than two years of political deadlock, Lebanon has elected a new President and appointed a new Prime Minister. President Joseph Aoun is poised to bring stability to Lebanon with the trust and support of the United States and the international community. We were encouraged by President Aoun’s inaugural speech, which underscored his commitment to the rule of law, combating corruption, and moving beyond sectarian favoritism.
For too long, Lebanon has been held hostage by entrenched political elites who have enabled economic collapse, exacerbated a humanitarian and refugee crisis, and opened the door to Hezbollah and Iran’s destabilizing influence. The new government must now move forward with strength, uphold democratic principles, and restore the confidence of the international community under U.S. leadership.
We stand ready to support your Administration’s efforts to strengthen our partnership with Lebanon, reinforce stability in the region, and assist the Lebanese people in building a transparent, accountable, and functional government. As your national security team assesses ongoing and future U.S. engagement with Lebanon, we urge you to ensure that any financial or reconstruction assistance remains contingent on the following key policies:
- Exclusion of Hezbollah from Government: Lebanon’s new government must not allow Hezbollah or its political proxies to hold any positions within the administration. Including Hezbollah in any capacity would directly undermine Lebanese sovereignty under the leadership of an independent president.
- Government Representation Based on Merit, Not Political Influence: The Lebanese government must prioritize balanced representation within state institutions, appointing individuals based on their ability to serve the people rather than political affiliation or elite connections.
- Commitment to a Peaceful Border Resolution: As efforts continue to secure a long-term resolution to the Israel-Lebanon border dispute, we support enforcement and compliance with existing United Nations resolutions or alternative diplomatic negotiations to ensure lasting stability.
We remain optimistic that, under its new leadership, Lebanon will emerge as a strong, independent, and prosperous partner of the United States in the Middle East. These positive changes will not only benefit the Lebanese people but will also advance democratic principles and regional stability.
In Congress, we are prepared to support your Administration’s diplomatic and security initiatives in Lebanon and the broader Middle East, including continued assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces. We look forward to collaborating with you in pursuit of peace through strength, reinforcing our commitments to key allies such as Israel and Lebanon, and reaffirming U.S. leadership on the global stage.
