Key facts
- Lebanese Army Commander Rodolphe Haykal visited Italy from August 24-26.
- Haykal met with Italian Army Chief Luciano Portolano to discuss bilateral military cooperation.
- The officials discussed strategies for the period following the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mission.
- Italy views Lebanon's stability as a strategic priority and supports the Lebanese Army.
- Discussions covered UNIFIL's role, Italy's bilateral military mission, and the Military Technical Committee for Lebanon.
- Haykal also met with Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
Lebanese Army Commander Rodolphe Haykal visited Italy from August 24 to 26, meeting with his Italian counterpart Luciano Portolano. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral military cooperation and planning for the period after the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) concludes its mission. Portolano emphasized that Lebanon's stability is a strategic priority for Italy and praised the friendly relations between the two countries. He also highlighted the importance of supporting the Lebanese Army due to its crucial role in maintaining security and stability. The talks also encompassed UNIFIL's role, Italy's bilateral military mission in Lebanon (MIBIL), and the Military Technical Committee for Lebanon (MTC4L), along with Italy's vision for its post-UNIFIL involvement. Haykal expressed gratitude for Italy's ongoing support for the Lebanese Army. During his visit, Haykal also received a call from Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and met with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who stressed the need for peace in Lebanon and commended the Lebanese Army's role.