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Geagea: Lebanon is a Sovereign State, We are not Concerned with Confrontations of the Resistance Axis

Lebanese Forces Leader Samir Geagea (REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir)
Lebanese Forces Leader Samir Geagea (REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir)
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Geagea: Lebanon is a Sovereign State, We are not Concerned with Confrontations of the Resistance Axis

Lebanese Forces Leader Samir Geagea (REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir)
Lebanese Forces Leader Samir Geagea (REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir)

The head of the Lebanese Forces Party, Dr. Samir Geagea, slammed the recent positions of Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, saying that speaking on behalf of the so-called ‘axis of resistance’ and setting plans to counter US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel violated Lebanese sovereignty.

“I want to stop at one point in Nasrallah’s speech; it’s that he does not speak only on behalf of Hezbollah, but on behalf of the whole ‘resistance axis’, which he says has recently aborted conspiracies in Arab countries, especially in Syria, and is now setting comprehensive plans to address the issue of Jerusalem,” Geagea said, in an interview with Asharq al-Awsat.

“Contrary to Nasrallah’s view on confronting conspiracies in Arab countries, and in Syria specifically, I believe that the ‘axis of resistance’ is the one behind the biggest conspiracy by supporting [Bashar] Assad’s regime and helping it survive for seven years now,” he added.

Geagea criticized Hezbollah’s leader for “speaking on behalf of the axis of resistance in the entire region, and calling on them to draw up the necessary plans to confront the Trump decision on Jerusalem.

“I want to remind Nasrallah that the Lebanese land is sovereign, and sovereignty is exclusive to the Lebanese State, and that we are not interested in any plans and confrontations except for those set by the Lebanese State,” the LF leader stressed.

“The president of Lebanon is not called the ‘axis of resistance’ but Michel Aoun, and we have the government and its president, Saad Hariri, and Parliament and its speaker, Nabih Berri. For us, these constitutional institutions are the ‘axis of resistance’; there is nothing else called ‘axis of resistance’. The Lebanese people gave these institutions the exclusive exercise of sovereignty over the Lebanese territory,” Geagea firmly said.

The LF leader underlined the important role of the Lebanese Army in defending the country.

“We must not forget that there is the Lebanese Army, which has proved to have great capacity and high effectiveness, on some occasions when it was given the chance to act,” he noted.

Asked about the recent adoption of the policy of dissociation and whether the government would succeed in its implementation, the Lebanese political leader said: “Yes, there is the possibility of applying the policy of dissociation because everyone knows that if they pressure Prime Minister Hariri again, he will do what he did the previous time; he will resign…because he cannot bear unbalanced policies emanating from Lebanon.”

On whether he believes that there was a realistic solution to Hezbollah’s weapons, Geagea said: “I firmly believe that Hezbollah’s weapons should not be linked with large axes; they must be purely Lebanese, contrary to what many believe.”

“The first step we must make as a political authority is to decide that these weapons should be placed in the hands of the Lebanese government, especially that Hezbollah and many of the parties are represented in the government, and then we reach a plan to put these weapons under the authority of the Lebanese army,” he stated.

Geagea pointed out to the recent developments in Iraq, noting that as soon as the country declared the end of the war against ISIS, Moqtada al-Sadr announced the dissolution of his military wing “Saraya al-Salam” and the handing over of arms to the state.

“That’s the logic. Mr. Sadr stressed that the logic of the State must prevail,” he said.

Moving to the upcoming parliamentary elections, the LF leader said it was too soon to talk about electoral alliances, stressing that his party would engage in the elections under the slogan of the establishment of a sovereign effective state.

“Until now, I don’t consider that there is an actual state in Lebanon, because not all strategic decisions are made within the state,” he said.

The second electoral slogan for the Lebanese Forces is the issue of fighting corruption, according to Geagea.

“This has been our slogan since our first participation in the government; we will continue to work towards this purpose and we will run the parliamentary elections on this basis,” he stressed.

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Syrian Minister of Economy: Sanctions Relief Tied to Reforms

Syrian Minister of Economy and Industry Nidal Al-Shaar standing in line outside Al-Razi Bakery in Aleppo Province, listening to citizens’ concerns (Facebook page). 
Syrian Minister of Economy and Industry Nidal Al-Shaar standing in line outside Al-Razi Bakery in Aleppo Province, listening to citizens’ concerns (Facebook page). 
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Syrian Minister of Economy: Sanctions Relief Tied to Reforms

Syrian Minister of Economy and Industry Nidal Al-Shaar standing in line outside Al-Razi Bakery in Aleppo Province, listening to citizens’ concerns (Facebook page). 
Syrian Minister of Economy and Industry Nidal Al-Shaar standing in line outside Al-Razi Bakery in Aleppo Province, listening to citizens’ concerns (Facebook page). 

Syrian Minister of Economy and Industry Nidal Al-Shaar stated that while the serious lifting of US sanctions on Syria could gradually yield positive results for the country’s economy, expectations must remain realistic, as rebuilding trust in the Syrian economy is essential.

In an exclusive interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Shaar described the removal of sanctions as a necessary first step toward eliminating the obstacles that have long hindered Syria’s economic recovery. Although the immediate impact will likely be limited, he noted that in the medium term, improvements in trade activity and the resumption of some banking transactions could help create a more favorable environment for investment and production.

The breakthrough came after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman successfully facilitated a thaw in relations between Washington and Damascus, ultimately convincing the US president to lift sanctions on Syria. During his historic visit to Saudi Arabia last Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced he would order the removal of all sanctions on Syria to “give it a chance to thrive”—a move seen as a major opportunity for the country to begin a new chapter.

Al-Shaar cautioned, however, that Syrians should not expect an immediate improvement in living standards. “We need to manage the post-sanctions phase with an open and pragmatic economic mindset,” he said, stressing that real progress will only come if sanctions relief is accompanied by meaningful economic reforms, increased transparency, and support for the business climate.

He added that Syrians will begin to feel the difference when the cost of living declines and job opportunities grow—an outcome that requires time, planning, and stability.

According to Al-Shaar, the first tangible benefits of lifting sanctions are likely to be seen in the banking and trade sectors, through facilitated financial transfers, improved access to essential goods, and lower transportation and import costs. “We may also see initial interest from investors who were previously deterred by legal restrictions,” he said. “But it’s important to emphasize that political openness alone isn’t enough—there must also be genuine economic openness from within.”

He also underscored the importance of regional support, saying that any positive role played by neighboring countries in encouraging the US to lift sanctions and normalize ties with Damascus “must be met with appreciation and cooperation.” Al-Shaar emphasized that robust intra-Arab economic relations should form a cornerstone of any reconstruction phase. “We need an economic approach that is open to the Arab world, and we could see strategic partnerships that reignite the national economy—especially through the financing of major infrastructure and development projects.”

When asked whether he expects a surge in Arab and foreign investment following the lifting of sanctions, Al-Shaar responded: “Yes, there is growing interest in investing in Syria, and several companies have already entered the market. But investors first and foremost seek legal certainty and political guarantees.” He explained that investment is not driven solely by the removal of sanctions, but by the presence of an encouraging institutional environment. “If we can enhance transparency, streamline procedures, and ensure stability, we will gradually see greater capital inflows—especially in the service, industrial, and agricultural sectors.”

As for which countries may play a significant role in Syria’s reconstruction, Al-Shaar said: “Countries with long-term interests in regional stability will be at the forefront of the rebuilding process. But we must first rebuild our internal foundations and develop an economic model capable of attracting partners under balanced conditions—ones that protect economic sovereignty and promote inclusive development.”

The minister concluded by stressing that lifting sanctions, while significant, is not the end of the crisis. “Rather, it may mark the beginning of a new phase—one filled with challenges,” he said. “The greatest challenge isn’t securing funding, but managing resources wisely, upholding the principles of productivity, justice, and transparency. We need a proactive—not reactive—economy. We must restore the value of work and implement policies that put people at the center of development. Only then can we say we are beginning to emerge from the bottleneck.”

Last Wednesday, Riyadh hosted a landmark meeting between the Crown Prince, Trump, and Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa—marking the first meeting between a Syrian and a US president since Hafez Al-Assad met Bill Clinton in Geneva in 2000.

Most US sanctions on Syria were imposed after the outbreak of the country’s conflict in 2011. These targeted deposed President Bashar Al-Assad, members of his family, and various political and economic figures. In 2020, additional sanctions came into effect under the Caesar Act, targeting Assad’s inner circle and imposing severe penalties on any entity or company dealing with the Syrian regime. The Act also sanctioned Syria’s construction, oil, and gas sectors and prohibited US funding for reconstruction—while exempting humanitarian organizations operating in the country.