Lebanese President Aoun meets with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun arrived in Washington on July 18, 2026, for an official visit, marking the first such visit by a Lebanese head of state since 2009. On July 19, President Aoun held discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to address the regional situation and ongoing negotiations regarding the Israeli military withdrawal from southern Lebanon. During the meeting, Secretary Rubio emphasized the need to dismantle Hezbollah's infrastructure and praised the Lebanese government's efforts toward disarmament and sovereignty. The talks are centered on the framework agreement established between Tel Aviv and Beirut last month to achieve a lasting ceasefire. President Aoun is also scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday to further discuss these security measures. This series of diplomatic meetings aims to finalize the withdrawal of Israeli forces and stabilize the region.