This visit to Lebanon, postponed by President Macron, suffering from Covid-19 but still continuing to give dinners at the Elysée Palace, was postponed in a context of extreme nervousness of the French Navy.
Just before the pandemic hit the Elysée’s tenant, Jupiter had announced that he wanted to go to Lebanon, “a sinking Titanic” (to use Jean Yves Le Drian’s words, or rather his threats), to abandon the politicians and threaten them to speed up their efforts if they wanted to cling to the Western rescue knots.
The Elysée had also made it clear that the president had no plan to meet with any Hezbollah representative whatsoever and that even under the US influence, he is getting fed up with Saad Hariri, who, while saying yes to the US/NATO axis, continues to “compose” with Hezbollah. This pre-announced anti-Hezbollah boycott was combined shortly afterwards with “slanders” spouted by the former Lebanese Interior Minister against Hezbollah and even Iran concerning their supposed role (!!) in the double explosion on August 4 in the port of Beirut, which led to a complaint from Hezbollah and an explosion of polemics as to “why the international investigation is not successful; why the elements are not made public”.
In fact, what angers and worries the Western axis and its connections is this slow and painful change in Lebanon: since August 4th and without media coverage, a virtual twinning has taken place between the Syrian gate of Tartus and that of Beirut, the Russian operation of the Syrian port serving as a relay to ensure the missing port services. For a France whose president had rushed to the ruins of Beirut seeking to make juicy reconstruction contracts his own, this is rather a setback and it is Hezbollah and the privileged nature of its ties with Russia that, according to the pro-Western clan, is to blame. And it is true that the Lebanese Resistance has never let itself be fooled by the good words of the Elysée Palace and has done everything possible to ensure that the pro-Israel parties in this game are not privileged.
On Saturday, December 19, Russian military sources even reported a small, very French provocation against the Russian naval base in Tartous, as the frigate F713 Aconit approached the Syrian coast to conduct a “special military operation”.
The battleship would have approached Syrian territorial waters close enough to the Russian naval base in Tartus without going further, knowing especially that Russia has sufficient means including coastal missile systems, weapons from warships, as well as combat aircraft stationed at the Hmeimim air base to counter any attack.
“The French navy did not intend to wage war. It was too French a way to express the Elysee’s anger at seeing Russia succeed in entering Lebanon through Hezbollah’s gate and enslaving the port of Beirut via the Syrian port. The Beirut scenario signed by US/Israel/NATO seems to work in a totally opposite direction”.
By the way, there are in Lebanon and not only voices pro Resistance who 5 months after the disaster no longer have any illusions about the true nature of the pecuniary assistance that the West offers. These voices know that Lebanon is the junction between Europe and the Arab world and that this is the way to salvation. And how? The reconstruction of Syria and Iraq (the axis of the Resistance) will pass through Lebanon and make Beirut a logistical hub that is ideally (geographically and strategically) placed for this, better than Haifa and Jebel Ali (in the United Arab Emirates). Beirut will be the nerve center of the supply chain for reconstruction projects in Syria and Iraq, a center capable of integrating free zones (tax-free zones) and rapid customs clearance, acting as a redistribution gateway for international companies, developing its infrastructure and digitizing its logistics operations.
All this, France, which has been present in Lebanon for so long, has refused it for the beautiful eyes of Israel. But at this point, Lebanon no longer sees any reason to continue this blockade. Why not rely on the parties who are candidates to “save Lebanon” in a win-win balance of power? And both China and Russia are on board. China already provides 40% of Lebanon’s imports. Even more symbolically, the famous road linking Beirut to Aleppo – via Damascus -, otherwise known as the M5, could be completed on its Lebanese section thanks to Chinese investments.
Beyond its own national needs, Lebanon remains a key entry point for the entire region. Countries such as Jordan, Syria or Iraq, or the countries of the Persian Gulf basin, also depend on their trade relations with Lebanon. 73% of its own imports are made by sea, Lebanon’s link to the sea is essential and relies on the dynamism of a key infrastructure, the seaport. A call for tenders is currently putting France and China in competition for the reconstruction of the port. And Hezbollah is opposed to the Elysée…. and it will oppose it as long as Tel Aviv decides in the place of France….In Lebanon, France is playing on the losing side and persists in wanting to do so… Jupiter’s disease comes at the right time.
by Basit Abbasi