US Welcomes New Lebanese Government
Saudi Arabia also congratulated Salam, and the formation of his government can be seen as one more setback for Iran in the region.
WASHINGTON DC, United States (Kurdistan24) - The U.S. expressed a warm welcome tor Lebanon’s new prime minister, Nawaf Salam, following the Lebanese parliament’s vote of approval of his new government on Wednesday.
The development marks the formation of Lebanon’s first government after two years of political stalemate.
Saudi Arabia also congratulated Lebanon’s new prime minister, and the formation of the government can be seen as one more setback for Iran, following Israel’s devastating response to Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, assault, which was joined by other Iranian proxies in the region, including Hizbollah.
In addition, the election of Donald Trump for a second term has further increased pressure on Iran and its proxies, and has promoted coordinated action between Washington and Riyadh.
Nawaf Salam and his New Cabinet
The 71 year-old Nawaf Salam has a degree from the law school of Harvard University. Before assuming his new post, he was a judge on the International Court of Justice and rose to the position as head of that organization.
Earlier, Salam served as Lebanon’s ambassador to the United Nations. In 2010 and 2011, in that capacity, he held the seat in the U.N. Security Council reserved for Arab countries. Early in his career, Salam taught at the American University of Beirut and the Sorbonne University in Paris.
On Jan. 9, 2025, Gen. Joseph Aoun was elected president by the Lebanese parliament. One of his first acts was to name Salam as prime minister—a move that angered Hizbollah. Indeed, as Reuters reported then, “In past years, Hizbollah has repeatedly blocked Salam from becoming prime minister, casting him as a U.S.-backed candidate.”
However, on Wednesday, even Hizbollah voted to support Salam’s new government.
In the Lebanese system, the president is a Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, and the Speaker of Parliament is a Shi’ite Muslim. The Speaker is Nabih Berri, the head of the Amal (Hope) Movement. Berri has held this position for the past three decades—since 1992.
U.S., Saudi Arabia Welcome Nawaf Salam’s Government
“The United States congratulates the people of Lebanon on the successful February 26 vote of confidence” for the new government, State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement issued on Thursday.
“We commend Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and wish his government success under President Joseph Aoun’s leadership,” she added.
“For too long, the Lebanese people were denied a governing body that could unite the country and rebuild Lebanese state institutions,” she continued. “America is partnering with Lebanon’s new government as it enacts urgently needed economic reforms, and we will continue our support for the Lebanese Armed Forces as it implements the cessation of hostilities.”
Similarly, “His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, has sent a congratulatory cable to Prime Minister of the Republic of Lebanon Dr. Nawaf Salam on the occasion of the formation of the Lebanese government under his leadership,” the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
“The Crown Prince wished the Lebanese prime minister success and the brotherly Lebanese people further progress and prosperity,” SPA added.
