Report: France, U.S. Competing to Deliver Arms to Lebanon
France and the United States are reportedly competing to arm the Lebanese military and benefit from the Saudi grants as it desperately needs weapons to confront the increasing threats by militants, in particular along Lebanon's eastern border.
A source following up the army deals under two Saudi financial grants told al-Akhbar newspaper published on Tuesday that the U.S. arms are very different from the French arms that ODAS company is in charge of delivering to Lebanon.
“The U.S. was in a hurry to deliver (arms) to prove that its weapons are the best to combat terror groups,” the source told the daily.
However, the source said newspaper that the U.S. is facing a dilemma due to strict measures by the Congress that prevent the delivery of arms directly to other countries.
The Congress argues that the delivery of arms directly to the Lebanese state poses the risk of “handing over the weapons to terror groups,” the source added.
The move prompted the U.S. administration to “ship arms to Jordan in order to deliver them to Lebanon,” and the same technique will be used through the United Arab Emirates, al-Akhbar said.
Saudi Arabia last year announced it would give the Lebanese army $3 billion to purchase weapons and equipment from France, but that deal has yet to be fully implemented.
In August, the kingdom offered another $1 billion in funds to allow the army to purchase supplies immediately.
Washington has also sought to bolster Lebanon's military, and recently announced it had delivered a new shipment of Hellfire missiles and would also supply light aircraft.
The pledges and arms deliveries come as several allies of Lebanon step up efforts to bolster its armed forces as the threat from jihadists in the region grows.
H.K.
G.K.
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