BEIRUT — In the continuation of the recent US-led Israeli military attack on Lebanon, after Joseph Aung was elected president of the Republic and Nawaf Salam was appointed prime minister, US pressure on Lebanon is trying to “weak” the effects of Hezbollah and its alliance.
One of the most prominent symptoms of American leadership is blatant interference in determining security, military, judicial and financial posts.
The Lebanese financial sector has long been under pressure from us. The story of our interference in the choice of a new governor of the Lebanon Central Bank is nothing new.
In light of its official submission to Washington’s interference with any details of Lebanon’s political issues, Reuters cited five informed sources, saying the US has begun to interfere in Lebanon’s government’s consultations on the choice of a next central banker to cut Hezbollah’s corruption and illegal funds through the Lebanese banking system.
Reuters said the move “represents a sign of an extraordinary approach to dealing with Washington’s Lebanon.
It noted that this reflects Lebanon’s continued focus on weakening Hezbollah after electing a Washington-backed former Army commander as president and establishing a new government that does not directly include Hezbollah.
The Lebanese government is currently facing the challenge of filling vacant positions, including central banks run by interim governors since July 2023.
Reuters also said three sources of information about Lebanese (on condition of anonymity), western diplomats and former officials of US President Donald Trump have said the US is reviewing files for several potential candidates for the position.
According to Reuters, “US officials met with several potential candidates at US embassies in Washington and Lebanon.” “U.S. authorities have asked candidates about how they can fight ‘terrorist funds’ through Lebanese banking system and whether they are willing to stand up to Hezbollah. ”
Reuters said the US State Department, the White House and Prime Minister Salam’s offices did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesman for the Lebanese president declined to comment on the role of the United States, saying that the most important thing is to choose qualified people. ”
Analysts believe that what Lebanese officials have told through Reuters includes threats that have been threatened to those seeking to oppose the Washington candidate.
Moreover, analysts argue that Lebanese officials who spoke with Reuters deliberately leak this information to show that no one has the right to object to it, in addition to the threat of taking action against Hezbollah’s banking institution, Al Qard al-Hassan.
The French presidency repeated the nomination of businessman and banker Samir Asaf for the governor of the central bank, noting that the prime minister tends to appease Paris on the issue, particularly as French President Emmanuel Macron promised him a major role in Lebanon in the future.
According to sources, the French president will discuss with his Lebanese counterparts on a visit to Beirut on the 28th of this month and propose to hold an international conference in Paris on the reconstruction of what was left behind by Israeli-led attacks in Lebanon next July.