Lebanese President Joseph Aoun received German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Baabda Palace on Monday, reaffirming the historic ties between Beirut and Berlin and underscoring the value of Germany’s experience in reconstruction, development, and national sovereignty.
During talks with Steinmeier and his accompanying delegation, Aoun highlighted the enduring relationship between the two countries and the importance of drawing on Germany’s postwar model of rebuilding and state consolidation.
The Lebanese president noted that Steinmeier’s visit comes nearly eight years after his previous trip, recalling the German leader’s earlier description of Beirut as a space for dialogue and hope. He cited Steinmeier’s remarks on the Lebanese people’s capacity to transform painful experiences into resilience and mutual recognition.
🇩🇪 Federal President Steinmeier arrives in 🇱🇧 and is welcomed by President Aoun. The official visit underscores the partnership between 🇩🇪 🤝 🇱🇧, fostering stability and growth. @BPrSprecherin @LBpresidency pic.twitter.com/wWh7CW1zuM
— Germany in Lebanon 🇩🇪🇱🇧 (@GermanEmbBeirut) February 16, 2026
Sovereignty and National Unity
Aoun stressed Lebanon’s firm commitment to its sovereignty and its right to protect its land and people. He said Germany’s own history offers key lessons: that genuine national unity is achieved only through full independence and the state’s exclusive authority over its territory; that a free national will can rebuild a country after devastation; and that external tutelage inevitably erects walls of division and isolation, which an aware and determined people can dismantle in pursuit of freedom and prosperity.
He affirmed that Lebanon is determined to learn from both its own trials and the experiences of its partners, placing the interests of its people first. That commitment, he said, includes preserving national defense capabilities and reconstructing what has been destroyed, relying on the will of the Lebanese people and the support of friendly nations.
Concluding his remarks, Aoun quoted, “To think is easy. To act is harder. But the hardest thing of all is to act in accordance with one’s thinking.” He said Lebanon is striving to uphold that principle, expressing gratitude to Germany and its people for their continued support.
Aoun also called for deeper partnership between Beirut and Berlin across multiple sectors, voicing hope for sustained cooperation and friendship between the two countries.
Source: Al-Manar Website