Italy–Lebanon relations
Map indicating locations of Italy and Lebanon

Italy
Lebanon

Italy–Lebanon relations (Italian: relazioni bilaterali tra Italia e Libano, Arabic: العلاقات الإيطالية اللبنانية) are relations between Italy and Lebanon. Both countries are members of the Union for the Mediterranean. Italy consideres Hezbollah, a major force in Lebanon a terrorist organisation.[1]

History

In 64 B.C., the Roman general Pompey added Lebanon to the Roman Republic. During and before this time, Phoenicians and Romans exchanged knowledge, habits, and customs.

Lebanon opened a legation in 1946, which was transformed into an embassy in 1955. Both countries signed a Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Navigation in 1949. The Italian Cultural Institute of Beirut (Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Beirut) is located on the ground floor of the Embassy in the suburb of Baabda.[2]

Official visits

In April 2014, Italian Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti visited Lebanese President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Tammam Salam to discuss international support for the Lebanese Armed Forces.[3]

Economic relations

In 2019, the volume of trade between Italy and Lebanon amounted to $1.35 billion, with Italy exporting $1.31 billion worth of goods to Lebanon and Lebanon exporting $39.8 million worth of goods to Italy.[4]

Italy's main export to Lebanon is refined oil (41.5%), with jewellery (5.01%) and eyewear (1.98%) also among the most-exported products from Italy. Lebanon's main export to Italy are scrap copper (24.8%) and phosphoric acid (24.5%), with other notable exports being gold (6.76%) and scrap aluminium (5.85%).[4]

Italian aid to Lebanon

The Italian Government supported the reconstruction of Lebanon after the Taef Agreement.

In December 2013, the Italian Government announced increased funding to Lebanon to assist Lebanon in dealing with refugees fleeing the Syrian Civil War. Italy also announced a rescue mission with five to seven ships to rescue thousands of migrants, mostly Syrians, in the Mediterranean Sea.[5]

In 2023, Italy reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring stability in Lebanon and descalating conflict in Lebanon which had led to an increase in migration from Lebanon to Europe.[6]

See also

Bibliography

  • Giampaolo Conte, Economic Relationship between Italy and Lebanon in the Fifties in "Oriente Moderno" V. 94, Issue 1, pp 99 – 112

References

  1. ↑ https://www.terrorism-info.org.il/en/more-countries-have-recently-declared-all-of-hezbollah-a-terrorist-organization-but-some-eu-countries-still-refrain-from-doing-so/
  2. ↑ "Beirut is all things to all people". The National. 19 November 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  3. ↑ "Italian defense minister discusses Army assistance with officials | News , Lebanon News | THE DAILY STAR".
  4. 1 2 "Italy (ITA) and Lebanon (LBN) Trade | OEC". OEC - The Observatory of Economic Complexity. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  5. ↑ "Italy to support Lebanese Army, increase refugee aid | News , Lebanon News | THE DAILY STAR".
  6. ↑ "Italy's Meloni reaffirms commitment to Lebanon's stability". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
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