Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is on an official visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of Bulgarian Head of State Rumen Radev, BNR reported.
Next year marks 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Lebanon.
President Rumen Radev will welcome his Lebanese counterpart Joseph Aoun with an official ceremony at "St. Alexander" Square in Sofia. Later, at "Dondukov" 2, the two will hold a "private meeting." The conversation will focus on opportunities for developing economic cooperation, partnership in the fields of high technology, innovation, defense and security, culture and education.
The two presidents will discuss topics from the regional and international agenda against the backdrop of new Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon a few days ago against targets of the Iranian-backed Shiite group "Hezbollah."
The tension raises concerns about the stability of the ceasefire reached between Israel and Lebanon in November last year after more than a year of conflict triggered by the war in Gaza. Tel Aviv accuses the pro-Iranian movement of trying to restore its terrorist infrastructure in the region, while the Lebanese army claims that the Israeli attacks in the south of the country are aimed at preventing the process of deploying Lebanese military units in the region.
The United States has increased its pressure on the Lebanese authorities to disarm the "Hezbollah" group, which operates on Lebanese territory.
In early 2025, taking over the presidency, which had been vacant for more than two years, Joseph Aoun pledged to rebuild the destruction in southern Lebanon and the capital Beirut and to work to address the country's economic crisis. Before being elected head of state, Aoun led the Lebanese army.