Defense Minister Nikos Dendias will arrive in Lebanon on Thursday for an official visit, where he will meet President Michel Aoun and key officials to discuss bilateral cooperation, particularly military support and the restructuring of the Lebanese Armed Forces. 

Dendias will also meet Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri and Culture Minister Ghassan Salame, with whom he maintained close contact during the Libya crisis of 2019-2020, when Salame served as UN special envoy.

Central to the talks is Greece’s commitment to assist Lebanon. A recent Greek National Security Council decision approved the donation of 13 M113 armored personnel carriers from Hellenic Army reserves.

Athens also plans to provide spare parts for aging US-made weapon systems in Lebanese service, medical supplies, and treatment options for military personnel. Greece has also offered officer training.

Military support is seen as vital in Lebanon’s efforts to reassert state control following the weakening of Hezbollah’s dominance.

President Aoun, a former army chief, is familiar with the stakes. Dendias’ visit carries geopolitical weight, underscoring Greece’s regional role and Lebanon’s ties with the West.

He will also raise concerns over Christian communities’ safety following recent deadly attacks, and will meet Patriarch John X of Antioch in Balamand.

Source: Ekathimerini.com