US applies pressure on Lebanese politicians over deadlock
▶ Official warns of ‘punitive actions’ for obstructing government formation
Officials in Lebanon could face “punitive actions” over the failure to form a new government, US undersecretary of state for political affairs David Hale said on Thursday.
Lebanon has been gripped by political paralysis for the past eight months as it faces the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and an economic crisis that pushed more than half of its population into poverty.
The country has been run by a caretaker government during that time, as political leaders repeatedly fail to agree to a new Cabinet under Prime Ministerdesignate Saad Hariri.
Lebanon must form a government capable of introducing reforms to gain access to billions of dollars in debt relief and loans from the international community.
“Those who continue to obstruct progress on the reform agenda jeopardise their relationship with the US and our partners and open themselves up to punitive actions,” Mr Hale said after talks with Lebanese President Michel Aoun in Beirut.
Mr Hale did not provide details of the potential punishments but he appeared to be referring to sanctions. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian repeated a similar threat last month.
He spent two days in Beirut and was the first US diplomat to visit since Joe Biden became president in January.
Mr Hale blamed the political deadlock on Lebanese politicians who failed to act in the interests of the country.
“The Lebanese people are clearly suffering because their leaders have failed to meet their responsibility to put the country’s interest first and address the mounting socioeconomic problems,” he said.
“The time to build a government – not stop it – is now. The time for comprehensive reform is now. It is not too late.”
Last year, the US imposed sanctions on Gebran Bassil, a former Lebanese foreign minister and Mr Aoun’s son-in-law, over corruption claims. He has been widely blamed for the political deadlock.
Mr Hale met Mr Hariri shortly before the prime ministerdesignate made a trip to Moscow. He was scheduled to meet Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Mr Hariri discussed the political situation in Lebanon with Mr Putin during a phone call on Thursday.
They also talked about strengthening trade and ties “to counter Covid-19, including through the supply of Russian vaccines to Syria”, a Kremlin communique said.
While the Biden administration shifts its foreign policy priorities to Asia, Russian officials have been holding talks with Lebanese politicians in Moscow in recent months.
Last year, the US mediated talks between Lebanon and Israel on maritime boundaries in a disputed area that spans 860 square kilometres.
The negotiations were suspended after Beirut claimed another 1,340 sq km.
After the meeting with Mr Hale, Mr Aoun said the border demarcation talks must continue and called for the US to remain in the role of “honest and just mediator”.
He urged international experts to set the boundaries of the contested area in accordance with international law.
He said Israel “must not carry out oil or gas work or start exploration in the Karish field and in the adjacent waters” that are disputed.
Mr Hale said the US was prepared to play a role in the negotiations over the maritime borders “on the basis on which we initiated these discussions”.