Nairobi: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Sunday commenced his official visit to Washington with a significant meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as revealed by a US State Department readout. The meeting, which took place at the State Department, focused on the US-Israel-Lebanon Trilateral Framework.

According to Anadolu Agency, Secretary Rubio underscored Washington's dedication to the "successful implementation of the Trilateral Framework" and expressed support for Lebanon's initiatives aimed at achieving peace, economic recovery, and a promising future for its citizens. A statement from the Lebanese presidency highlighted President Aoun's emphasis on harmonizing US and Lebanese efforts towards the implementation of the framework, particularly advocating for Israel's withdrawal from the first pilot area.

During the discussions, Aoun appealed for enhanced US support for Lebanese military institutions and advocated for increased US economic engagement in Lebanon, particularly in the energy, telecommunications, and transportation sectors. In response, Rubio affirmed his support for Aoun's strategies to reclaim Lebanon's sovereignty, implement the Trilateral Framework, and rejuvenate Lebanon's economic standing.

Rubio further remarked, "Lebanon cannot be tied to any other negotiating track," in a reference to ongoing US-Iran discussions, stressing that Lebanese sovereignty must stem from decisions made by its constitutional institutions.

Following his arrival in Washington on Saturday for a four-day official visit, Aoun is slated to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday. The Lebanese presidency previously announced that Aoun's agenda includes meetings with US Senate members and Trump administration officials to discuss Lebanon's current situation, ceasefire consolidation efforts, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied Lebanese territories.

The backdrop of these discussions is the ongoing conflict, despite a US-brokered framework agreement signed on June 26, which outlines a phased Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese lands. Israel continues its military activities in Lebanon, maintaining control over regions in southern Lebanon, some occupied for decades and others seized during recent conflicts.