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Political diplomacy

Italy established very good bilateral relations with Lebanon since the latter’s independence. In March 1947, the Lebanese Government officially recognized the then Italian legation, later to become the Embassy of Italy in 1955. The first bilateral agreements, including the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation, date back to 1949.

Political, economic and cultural relations between the two Countries constantly consolidated over the years. Italy continued to support Lebanon even in the most difficult times, in the sphere of security and stability, with the ITALCON military mission from 1982 to 1984, and through its development cooperation, active since 1983.

Bilateral ties and Italy’s engagement in Lebanon grew further after the 2006 war. In July 2006, Italy hosted the Rome Conference on Lebanon, aimed at renewing the International Community engagement for peace in the region. Italy also reactivated and expanded its presence in UNIFIL (United Nations Interim force in Lebanon), the UN peacekeeping mission deployed in Southern Lebanon since 1978. In August 2006, UN Security Council Resolution 1701 gave UNIFIL a new and broader mandate.

Italy supports the unity, sovereignty and independence of Lebanon and works to achieve full implementation of UNSC Resolution 1701 and other UN Resolutions concerning Lebanon. Furthermore, Italy plays a prominent role in UNIFIL, to which it contributes with the second largest military contingent, as well as by providing its Force Commander, for the fourth time in the last few years.

Italy is a member of the International Support Group-ISG, established in 2013 by the UN Secretary General and the then President of the Lebanese Republic, in order to enhance and coordinate assistance to Lebanon and its institutions by key international partners (UN, P5, Italy, Germany, EU, World Bank, Arab League).

Within the ISG framework, Italy organized and hosted two international conferences on support to Lebanese security forces that took place in Rome in 2014 and 2018. Moreover, in 2015 the Government of Italy launched MIBIL (Bilateral military mission), tasked with training Lebanese armed and security forces units, with the aim of strengthening an institution that is crucial for the country’s stability.

Italy and Lebanon’s strong bilateral relations are reflected in the frequent instances of mutual support for international candidacies and exchange of high-level official visits. Since 2009, more than 40 institutional visits took place, including recently the visits to Lebanon of the President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni (March 2024) and of the Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani (January 2024).