Ministerial Statement: Washington and Gulf States Affirm Lebanon-Israel Talks Unlinked to Other Conflicts

A joint statement following a ministerial meeting in Manama affirmed the agreement between the United States and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations that negotiations between Lebanon and Israel must not be linked to other conflicts. The document, issued by the US State Department and the GCC Secretariat, underscored the ministers' full commitment to Lebanon's sovereignty, security, stability, and territorial integrity. In this regard, the ministers welcomed US-facilitated bilateral negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, aimed at fostering conditions for lasting peace and the conclusion of security agreements. They further stressed the criticality of continuing these talks irrespective of other regional dispute outcomes. Both the United States and GCC countries also welcomed a practical approach to restore security and state authority in Lebanon, alongside permanent border demarcation. The statement additionally emphasized the need to disarm non-state armed groups in Lebanon and reinstate the government's monopoly on the use of force.