Press Releases 2007

Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Eric Edelman Visits Lebanon

October 16, 2007

U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Ambassador Eric S. Edelman visited Beirut on October 16, 2007.  While here, he met with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Elias Murr and Lebanese Armed Forces Commander General Michel Sleiman.  Ambassador Edelman reaffirmed the strong friendship between the United States and Lebanon and the strengthening of the military-to-military relationship between the two countries.

Ambassador Edelman and the Lebanese officials discussed establishing a bilateral strategic working group to deepen the military cooperation between the U.S. and Lebanon.  Among the matters this working group will take up is how best to use the U.S. military assistance to Lebanon, which has increased from $50 million in 2006 to more than $270 million in 2007.  Ambassador Edelman’s talks covered areas where the U.S. can assist the LAF to carry out its important responsibility to support Lebanon’s sovereignty.