The UK Minister for the Armed Forces, , conducted a one-day visit
to Lebanon yesterday. This was Minister Heappey’s first visit to
Lebanon where he saw first-hand how UK projects support the
Lebanese Armed Forces in their mission to maintain stability
across Lebanon.
The British Ambassador to Lebanon, Dr. Ian Collard, and the
British Embassy’s Defence Attaché, Lt. Col Lee Saunders,
accompanied Minister Heappey.
The Minister met the caretaker Minister of Defence, Maurice
Sleem, and the Lebanese Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun. They
discussed military cooperation between the UK and Lebanon.
At the Third Land Border Regiment (LBR) on the border with Syria,
Minister Heappey heard from senior Lebanese officers how the UK’s
work to enhance the capabilities of the LBRs has improved efforts
to counter cross-border smuggling and terrorist activity. This
has made the area safer for local communities. UK support has
enabled deployment of four Land Border Regiments (LBRs), the
construction of over 78 border towers, provision of 350 Land
Rovers, 100 armoured patrol vehicles, and training of over 20,000
Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) personnel.
At the end of his visit, Minister Heappey said:
The UK and Lebanon are close friends and partners. I was proud to
see first-hand the positive impact of the military cooperation
between our two countries that has spanned more than a decade.
I times of need, the UK stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Lebanon
and our partners around the world to tackle shared challenges. In
the current context, it is more important than ever that we
continue to work together to combat threats to global peace and
security.
I have greatly enjoyed my first visit to this beautiful country
and hope to return.
The British Ambassador to Lebanon, Dr. Ian Collard, said:
I am delighted to host the Minister for the Armed Forces, James
Heappey, on his first visit to Lebanon. The Lebanese Armed Forces
is crucial to ensuring Lebanon’s stability and safeguarding the
Lebanese people during these challenging times. Since 2010, the
UK has committed over £87 million to optimise the LAF’s
capabilities which underlines the UK’s government commitment to a
safe and stable Lebanon.
