BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 3. France is seeking to maintain its influence in Lebanon as the country faces continued instability despite a US-brokered cessation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon that took effect on April 16. Daily attacks have continued across Lebanon, underscoring the fragility of the truce.
TurkicWorld reports that more than 3,000 people have reportedly been killed and over one million displaced since the escalation of hostilities. On Monday, following reports that US President Donald Trump intervened to prevent imminent Israeli strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, French President Emmanuel Macron held a phone conversation with him, highlighting Paris’s continued involvement in diplomatic efforts related to Lebanon.
Analysts say France remains concerned about expanding US influence in Lebanon and is attempting to reassert its own role in a country where historical ties, stemming from the colonial era, have long provided Paris with political, cultural and strategic leverage.
France is also closely monitoring the future of the United Nations peacekeeping presence in Lebanon, as uncertainty surrounding the mission could further reduce French influence in the country. As regional dynamics evolve, Paris is searching for new ways to preserve its diplomatic and strategic position in Lebanon and the broader Middle East.
