US Ambassador to Beirut: Iran Sees Lebanon as a ‘Satellite State’ to Implement its Agenda

US Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea speaks after meeting with Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon March 25, 2021. (Dalati & Nohra)
US Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea speaks after meeting with Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon March 25, 2021. (Dalati & Nohra)
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US Ambassador to Beirut: Iran Sees Lebanon as a ‘Satellite State’ to Implement its Agenda

US Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea speaks after meeting with Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon March 25, 2021. (Dalati & Nohra)
US Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea speaks after meeting with Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon March 25, 2021. (Dalati & Nohra)

US Ambassador to Beirut Dorothy Shea said that the United States “has been and will continue to be on the side of the Lebanese people” as politicians continue to squabble over the formation of a new government.

In remarks to the local Al-Jadeed channel, Shea noted that the mission government, which was proposed in the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron, focuses on addressing the repercussions of the Aug. 4 port explosion, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the implementation of some of the major reforms necessary to achieve economic stability and to resume negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The ambassador emphasized that a capable government “should start preparing for the elections scheduled to take place in less than a year.”

The United States views any attempt to disrupt the government as opposing the kind of government Lebanon needs during this crisis, according to Shea.

Speaking about the United States’ dealings with the Lebanese Army and its commander, General Joseph Aoun, the US ambassador said she regarded “Army Commander Joseph Aoun in his current position, and I do not have any opinion on whether he could be a suitable candidate for the presidency.”

She continued: “He is a good partner for us in his current position as commander… We have invested USD 2.2 billion in the Lebanese army over the past ten years, and I think the investment we have made is important and we are proud of.”

Touching on the crippling economic crisis, Shea emphasized her country’s commitment to help the Lebanese Army overcome the situation.

She stressed that Washington “will double the aid provided to the Lebanese army this year by USD 15 million through the Foreign Military Funding Program… Therefore, we will invest USD 120 million with our partners in equipment and training.”

Asked about the Iranian delivery of fuel shipments to Beirut amid a severe shortage in the country, Shea told Al Jadeed that that was not a viable solution to the problem.

“If you get rid of the rampant corruption in the energy and electricity sectors, half of the problem will be solved immediately,” she noted, adding: “What Iran is looking for is some kind of satellite state that they can exploit to pursue their agenda.”



Macron and Tebboune Announce Return of Normal ‘French-Algerian’ Relations

The Algerian and French presidents in August 2022 (Algerian presidency)
The Algerian and French presidents in August 2022 (Algerian presidency)
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Macron and Tebboune Announce Return of Normal ‘French-Algerian’ Relations

The Algerian and French presidents in August 2022 (Algerian presidency)
The Algerian and French presidents in August 2022 (Algerian presidency)

French President Emmanuel Macron and his Algerian counterpart, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, on Monday confirmed a normalization of ties after months of strained relations and agreed to reestablish political dialogue and relaunch cooperation on security and migration.
During a phone call, Macron urged Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune to show “mercy and humanity” towards a jailed French-Algerian writer, Boualem Sansal, the Elysee palace said in a statement.
The author was sentenced last Thursday to five years in prison after an interview he gave to a French far-right media outlet was deemed to undermine Algeria's territorial integrity.
Macron “called for a gesture of mercy and humanity towards Mr Boualem Sansal, given the age and state of health of the writer,” the Elysee statement said.
French nationals living in Algeria and who mostly own private companies, are concerned that the diplomatic rift between both countries would affect their businesses.
They hope discussions between French and Algerian high ranking officials would halt the deterioration in bilateral relations.
Michel Bisac, president of the Algerian French Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told the French-language news website Tout sur l'Algérie, that French residents in Algeria working in companies or in the finance and business fields, are “always welcomed by their Algerian partners.”
“The problem is mainly political,” he said in an attempt to minimize the escalated relations between both countries and its impact on jobs, and French investments in Algeria.
Bisac said most French companies have performed well in 2024, but the diplomatic escalation between the two countries has raised concerns.
“French companies in Algeria do not face any retaliatory measures. As for administrative difficulties, especially with regard to imports, they affect all foreign investors, and do not specifically target France,” he added.
Bisac said there is no campaign against France despite the tense relations, affirming that professional ties remain strong, and expatriates continue to work in a stable environment.
But as bilateral relations continue to deteriorate, he said, the economy could be affected, threatening years of Franco-Algerian cooperation.
Meanwhile, the government in Paris is divided on the French-Algerian crisis. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau vowed a “gradual response” after Algeria refused Paris’ demand to readmit Algerian nationals from France that local authorities have deemed a threat and are seeking to expel.
In return, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot will travel to Algiers on April 11 at the invitation of his Algerian counterpart, Ahmed Attaf, as part of the effort to mend ties between both countries. He is expected to meet with Tebboune.
Recently, Algerians have shown a willingness to dialogue, but the local press has continued its attacks on right-wing French officials, including presidential candidate Bruno Retailleau, who has called for the termination of the 1968 Franco-Algerian immigration agreement.
In return, Algeria's parliament established a commission to draft a law criminalizing French colonial rule, a move deemed “historical” and backed by local lawmakers, historians, and legal experts. Observers expect Algeria to abandon this step when relations between Algiers and Paris return to normal.