French Foreign Minister: Consensus on Preventing a Security Void in Southern Lebanon
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said there is consensus on the need to avoid a security void in southern Lebanon following the withdrawal of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), scheduled for the end of the year.
Speaking after a G7 meeting, Barrot said: There is consensus on the need to move quickly toward a new security structure. He added that Monday and Tuesday’s G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Paris provided an opportunity to make progress on the issue.
Barrot also said the risk of renewed escalation between the United States and Iran has not been entirely ruled out.
The risk of renewed strikes and escalation has not been entirely ruled out. Otherwise, we would not have devoted so much time and effort over these two days to discussing these issues with our American counterpart, followed by the Qatari prime minister,” he said at a press conference following the G7 ministerial meeting.
He added: We support the efforts, particularly those led by countries in the region, to find a path toward unblocking or reopening the Strait of Hormuz and reaching a political solution to prevent further strikes.
