President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reaffirmed Türkiye's unwavering support for Lebanon's sovereignty, territorial integrity and reconstruction during talks with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

Speaking at a joint press conference following their meeting at the Presidential Complex on Thursday, Erdoğan welcomed Aoun's visit, describing it as the first presidential-level visit from Lebanon to Türkiye in 17 years and an important step toward strengthening relations between the two countries.

Türkiye reaffirms support for Lebanon

Erdoğan said the discussions focused on regional developments, particularly the continuing Israeli military presence and attacks in southern Lebanon, emphasizing that Ankara remains firmly committed to supporting Lebanon's independence and stability.

"We maintain our strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our friendly and brotherly Lebanon, a country with which we share deep historical, cultural and political ties," Erdoğan said.

Describing Lebanon as one of the countries most affected by decades of regional instability and external rivalries, Erdoğan said lasting peace and cooperation in the Middle East would greatly benefit the Lebanese people.

"Lebanon has paid a heavy price for years as a battleground for regional conflicts. It stands to gain significantly from the environment of peace, stability and cooperation that Türkiye has consistently advocated for across the Middle East," he added.

Expanding bilateral cooperation

The two leaders also reviewed ways to strengthen cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including institutional development, humanitarian assistance, economic cooperation and technical support.

Erdoğan praised President Aoun's recent diplomatic initiatives and reaffirmed Türkiye's readiness to contribute to Lebanon's recovery and development.

"We discussed how Türkiye can support President Aoun's efforts and explored opportunities to further strengthen our bilateral relations. We will continue assisting Lebanon in enhancing its institutional capacity while maintaining our humanitarian and technical support," Erdoğan said.

The Turkish president also welcomed the gradual improvement in relations between Lebanon and Syria, expressing hope that continued dialogue between the neighboring countries would contribute to regional stability.

"We believe the ongoing dialogue between Lebanon and Syria will benefit both nations, and Türkiye stands ready to facilitate efforts that strengthen relations between the two countries," he said.

Commitment to regional security

Addressing regional security, Erdoğan said the eventual completion of the mission of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) would mark an important milestone.

He stressed that Türkiye is prepared to participate in future international initiatives aimed at preserving security and safeguarding Lebanon's sovereignty following any transition involving international peacekeeping forces.

"Türkiye is ready to contribute to any initiative designed to strengthen regional security and support Lebanon's sovereignty after the current international force completes its mission," he said.

Condemnation of Israeli attacks

Erdoğan strongly condemned Israel's military campaign in Lebanon, noting that thousands of Lebanese civilians have lost their lives since the escalation began on March 2, 2026.

According to Erdoğan, more than 4,300 Lebanese citizens have been killed, over 2,000 injured, and more than one million people displaced during the conflict.

Expressing his condolences to the Lebanese people, Erdoğan said Türkiye has consistently raised what it describes as Israel's violations of international law and humanitarian principles before the international community.

"Türkiye has been among the countries that reacted most strongly to these attacks. Throughout this process, we have continued to bring Israel's crimes against humanity to the attention of the international community," he said.

He added that Ankara is closely monitoring diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the conflict and reiterated Türkiye's willingness to contribute to Lebanon's reconstruction, particularly in the heavily affected southern regions.

Türkiye pledges continued assistance

Concluding his remarks, Erdoğan reaffirmed Türkiye's commitment to supporting Lebanon through humanitarian assistance, reconstruction projects and expanded bilateral cooperation.

The visit by President Aoun, the first of its kind in nearly two decades, reflects renewed momentum in Türkiye-Lebanon relations as both countries seek to deepen political, economic and humanitarian cooperation while addressing the complex security challenges facing the region. (ILKHA)