After five years of suspension, Saudi Arabia decided on June 10 to lift the ban on Lebanese exports to its territory.
The move, announced by Riyadh and requested by Lebanese authorities, ends a restriction imposed in 2021 amid heightened political tensions between the two countries, notably over Saudi accusations of Captagon trafficking and concerns about Hezbollah’s growing influence in Lebanon’s regional policy.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met on June 11 with Saudi diplomatic adviser Yazid bin Farhan, according to An-Nahar, thanking Riyadh for its renewed economic openness toward Lebanon. Beirut hopes that this decision will attract fresh investment from Gulf countries.
Meanwhile, Al Akhbar reported on June 12 on the potential opportunities this decision could unlock for Lebanon’s agricultural and industrial sectors.
Lebanese exports to Saudi Arabia had already been in sharp decline before the embargo, falling from $454 million in 2012 to $230 million in 2020, an overall drop of nearly 50%.
Beyond its economic dimension, the decision is also seen as a political signal aimed at Iran’s regional influence. Riyadh’s earlier disengagement from the Lebanese file had largely reflected perceptions that Lebanon was increasingly under Hezbollah’s dominance and, by extension, Tehran’s sway.
This renewed engagement with Beirut is therefore interpreted as a broader message, coinciding with recent Lebanese government efforts to restructure the state, assert a monopoly over weapons, and rebalance power dynamics with Hezbollah.