Group of Five meets in Doha to discuss Lebanese political crisis

DOHA — In an effort to address the ongoing political deadlock in Lebanon and expedite the election of a new president following the end of President Michel Aoun’s term on 31 October 2022, a five-member group convened in the Qatari capital, Doha.

Representatives from the United States, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt gathered on Monday to discuss and devise measures aimed at compelling Lebanese politicians to elect a new president as the country grapples with an escalating crisis.

During the meeting, the group emphasized the urgency for members of the Lebanese parliament to fulfill their responsibility and elect a new president. They also explored potential actions against those impeding progress in this regard.

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid al-Ansari expressed confidence that the five countries involved possess significant influence in Lebanon and anticipated that the meeting would contribute to resolving the crisis.

Al-Ansari further underscored the commitment of the five nations to uphold Lebanon’s sovereignty, emphasizing that the ultimate solution to the crisis should be internally driven.