Paris Reveals Decisive International Consensus to Avoid Security Vacuum in Lebanon

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated that there is "a consensus on the need to avoid a security vacuum" in southern Lebanon following the withdrawal of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), scheduled for the end of the year.

Barrot made these remarks after a G7 meeting: "The consensus includes 'the necessity to move forward quickly toward a new security structure,'" considering that the group's foreign ministers' meeting in Paris on Monday and Tuesday "provided an opportunity to make progress" on this issue.

He considered that "the risk of renewed escalation between the United States and Iran has not been completely ruled out," during a press conference today at the conclusion of the G7 ministerial meeting.

Barrot said, "The risk of resuming strikes and escalation has not been completely ruled out; otherwise, we would not have dedicated all this time and effort over these two days to discussing these issues with our American counterpart, and then with the Qatari Prime Minister."

He added, "However, we support the efforts being made, particularly by regional countries, to find a path toward unblocking or reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and toward a political solution to prevent the resumption of strikes."