Salam discusses post-UNIFIL arrangements with European and American officials

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam discussed on Thursday, in two separate meetings, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and US Senator James Lankford, developments in southern Lebanon, the importance of an international force after the end of UNIFIL's mandate, and ways to implement the trilateral framework between the United States, Israel, and Lebanon. Both sides stressed the importance of continued international support for the Lebanese army to enable it to extend state authority, with a clear timeline and a verification mechanism for implementing commitments. This comes as the UN Security Council decided to begin UNIFIL's withdrawal by the end of 2026, and after the seventh round of negotiations in Rome stalled.