My remarks at the dinner I hosted in honor of former U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon David Hale

Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, dear friends,

It is an honor to welcome you this evening as we celebrate Ambassador David Hale, a true friend of Lebanon and a tireless advocate for peace, diplomacy, and understanding in our region.

We also take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the United States of America for its unwavering commitment to Lebanon and its support for our sovereignty, institutions, and people during difficult times. Ambassador Hale embodies this commitment, and we are deeply grateful to him for it.

We gather today at a historic moment filled with possibilities. The Middle East, long plagued by conflict, is showing that peace is not impossible.

The 2025 Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Initiative and the Saudi-led effort at the United Nations remind us that justice, dialogue, and international cooperation can still prevail. They demonstrate that consensus is possible even in a region torn by divisions, and that peace remains within reach.

For Lebanon, this moment represents both an opportunity and a responsibility. Peace abroad must go hand in hand with reform at home.

We must rebuild our state on the foundations of sovereignty, legitimacy, and accountability. This begins with disarming all militias and reaffirming the state’s exclusive authority over weapons. No nation can be united when its sovereignty is divided.

We must also put an end to the cash-based economy, restructure our banking and financial systems, and restore public debt sustainability. Together with a strong and independent judiciary, these measures will help restore confidence and lay the foundations for lasting stability.

Completing the demarcation of our borders is equally essential, because peace begins with clarity, and clarity begins with defined and respected borders.

Ambassador Hale, your dedication to Lebanon inspires us all. Diplomacy is not merely about negotiation; it is about patience and hope, and the belief that nations can overcome division.

Let us renew our commitment tonight to turning hope into strategy, and strategy into peace.

And may Lebanon make itself not merely a witness to history, but a partner in shaping a new Middle East—one founded on justice, dialogue, and mutual respect.