Bahrain says it will establish diplomatic mission in Beirut as Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun visits

Bahrain will establish a permanent diplomatic mission in Beirut, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has said, as Lebanese President Joseph Aoun visited the Gulf state in a bid to reset relations.

President Aoun arrived in Bahrain on Tuesday for a two-day state visit, the latest stop in a wider push to repair and deepen Lebanon's ties with Gulf Arab countries.

Mr Aoun, accompanied by Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji, met King Hamad on Wednesday to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral co-operation, particularly in political, economic and cultural sectors, the Lebanese presidency said.

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“We look forward to resuming full trade exchange between us,” said Mr Aoun.

In comments reported by the Lebanese presidency and Bahrain’s state media, King Hamad said: “On this occasion, we proudly announce our decision to establish a permanent Bahraini diplomatic mission in Beirut.”

On arrival, Mr Aoun said he was looking forward to “productive meetings” with the leadership on collaboration and to exchange views on regional and international developments.

“Lebanon values its rooted ties with Bahrain … and we are working together in a spirit that serves the interests of our peoples amid the region’s complex challenges,” he said.

Since taking office in January, Mr Aoun has put rebuilding Lebanon’s relationships with Gulf countries at the centre of his foreign policy agenda.

The former army chief, elected after more than two years of presidential vacuum, wasted no time in launching a diplomatic charm offensive. His first overseas trip was to Saudi Arabia. He has also visited the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait.

Mr Rajji had previously called on Bahrain to reopen its embassy in Beirut in an interview with Bahraini daily Al Ayyam. In early July, Bahrain's ambassador to Lebanon, Waheed Mubarak Sayyar, said his country was preparing to do so and that work was under way to appoint a resident ambassador.

Bahrain was among several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait, that withdrew their ambassadors from Beirut in October 2021, following remarks by then information minister George Kordahi, who criticised the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen.

His comments triggered a diplomatic crisis, reflecting deeper Gulf concerns over Iran’s growing influence in Lebanon through Hezbollah, the powerful Shiite militia that wields military and political power.

Relations remained strained for years. But Gulf engagement has gradually resumed in the aftermath of the war between Hezbollah and Israel, which concluded in November.

The Iran-backed group was severely weakened by the conflict. Israel’s military campaign destroyed much of Hezbollah’s infrastructure, infiltrated its security network and eliminated the group’s leadership and senior commanders.

Lebanon now is under international pressure to disarm Hezbollah. The US ties reconstruction aid and a halt to Israeli army operations to the group's full disarmament around the country.

Battered by war and economic collapse, Lebanon is in urgent need of Arab and international support to begin reconstruction and revive its shattered economy.

As part of the broader thaw, the UAE and Kuwait have lifted travel bans on Lebanon, allowing their citizens to return after years of absence.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon have agreed to examine obstacles preventing the resumption of Lebanese exports to the kingdom and are exploring the possibility of restoring travel access for Saudi citizens to Beirut.