This is Beirut

US State Department: Supporting LAF Remains a Priority

This is Beirut, 13/05 15:05 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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US State Department spokesperson Sam Warburg emphasized on Tuesday the United States’ commitment to supporting the Lebanese Army (LAF), stressing that it must “extend its control over every inch of Lebanon.” In an interview with LBCI, Warburg noted that Washington is actively discussing with the Lebanese government the types of economic ...

Trump Says would be 'Stupid' to Reject Qatari Air Force One Gift

This is Beirut, 13/05 09:55 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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US President Donald Trump on Monday angrily dismissed concerns over his plans to receive a jet from Qatar to be used as Air Force One, saying it would be "stupid" not to accept such a gift. The offer from Qatar's royal family to donate the $400 million 747-8 to be used as the US presidential plane raised major questions about ethics and security, ...

US Approves $1.4 bn Weapons Sale to UAE

This is Beirut, 13/05 09:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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US officials said Monday the State Department has authorized the sale of $1.4 billion worth of military aircraft and equipment to the United Arab Emirates, ahead of President Donald Trump's visit this week. The proposed sale to the Gulf state involves six CH-47F Chinook helicopters and other equipment for $1.32 billion that would "support the ...

From Iran’s Nuclear Program to Gaza: The Gulf as the New Hub of Global Diplomacy (1/2)

Malo Pinatel, 12/05 21:00 - Reading : 7 minute(s)

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On December 8, 2024, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) stated that the member states of the GCC “are committed to strengthening dialogue and diplomacy, ensuring that the Gulf region remains a hub for peace and cooperation amid growing global competition.” This was said during a roundtable on the future of cooperative ...

What Will Donald Trump Do While in the Middle East?

David Hale , 12/05 18:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

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It is no surprise that President Trump's first major foreign trip (not counting the late Pope's funeral) since returning to office will be to the Arabian Peninsula. Saudi Arabia was also his first stop in 2017. It is only natural: the center of power in the Arab world rests in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi. And the Saudis, Qataris, and Emiratis are his ...

Trump’s Middle East Tour: Diplomacy Under the Billion-Dollar Sign

Mario Chartouni, 12/05 17:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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Donald Trump begins the first diplomatic tour of his second term with a strategic visit to Gulf monarchies. This tour — which includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates — aims to strengthen already solid economic ties with these hydrocarbon-rich states, with the hope of securing massive trade and investment deals. Riyadh has ...

Riyadh Rolls Out the Red Carpet for Trump

This is Beirut, 12/05 12:20 - Reading : less than a minute

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Donald Trump will begin his Gulf tour in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, where he is set to receive a grand welcome in Riyadh. The visit will focus on boosting investments in defense, energy and artificial intelligence. However, rising tensions with Iran and the ongoing crisis in Gaza loom large over the trip.

Araghchi to Visit Saudi Arabia and Qatar Ahead of Trump’s Regional Tour

This is Beirut, 09/05 22:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will visit Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Saturday, his ministry said, days before US President Donald Trump begins a regional tour. Araghchi is due to hold talks with senior Saudi officials in Riyadh before heading to Doha for a conference on Arab-Iranian dialogue, ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in a ...

Towards Revitalizing Lebanese Agricultural Exports: Regional Markets Open Up Again

This is Beirut, 07/05 16:20 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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Minister of Agriculture Nizar Hani announced a significant step forward in opening up regional markets to Lebanese agricultural products. In a statement to the MTV television channel, he revealed that a large portion of foreign markets are now accessible, and that from May 10, the Jordanian market will once again welcome Lebanese citrus fruits, ...

Minister of Tourism: To Re-Establish Lebanon as a Preferred Tourist Destination for Gulf Countries

This is Beirut, 07/05 11:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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Lebanon’s Minister of Tourism Laura Lahoud reaffirmed the government’s commitment to restoring the country’s status as a top destination for visitors from the Gulf, during a ministerial meeting held on Tuesday at the Grand Serail under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. The meeting comes amid renewed efforts by the Lebanese ...

Lebanon Steps Up Security as Gulf Tourists Set to Return

This is Beirut, 06/05 19:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met on Tuesday at the Grand Serail with ambassadors from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to coordinate preparations for the anticipated return of Gulf nationals to Lebanon. The meeting follows the United Arab Emirates’ recent decision to lift a long-standing travel ban on Lebanon, imposed during a previous ...

Qataris Hooked on Traditional Handline Fishing Competition

This is Beirut, 05/05 12:30 - Reading : less than a minute

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On the Doha seashore, rows of wooden dhow boats line a pier, with scores of fish on display, as part of a festival seeking to revive Qatar's long seafaring tradition. Aboard the boats, men in customary sea gear–a white t-shirt and towel–reprise the age-old tradition of line-fishing in the energy-rich Gulf emirate for the 11th edition of the ...

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