Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri will meet with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington on Thursday.
The two men are expected to discuss US-Lebanese relations, and other issues, including the country’s security and political stability.
Hariri met with US Assistant Secretary of State David Hale on Wednesday night and discussed a number of issues and common affairs.
Hariri is also expected to meet with a number of senators and members of the Lebanese community in Washington, if his visit program allows.
The Lebanese prime minister avoided discussing details of his private visit to Washington with the media, despite his meetings with a number of US officials.
While the State Department refused to comment on the files to be discussed with Hariri, political circles revealed that the sanctions files on Hezbollah and Lebanon’s commitment to sanctions against Iran would be among the main issues to be tackled.
Sources said that Hariri would likely ask Pompeo’s assistance to guarantee the Pentagon’s support for the Lebanese Army, especially since the new Defense Secretary, Mark Esper, who recently took office, is among Pompeo’s close friends.
The Lebanese premier arrived in Washington on Monday and met with US Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Counter-terrorism Financing Marshall Billingslea. Talks focused on financial procedures related to the banking sector in Lebanon.
