Italy–Lebanon relations

Italy–Lebanon relations

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[edit]

In 64 B.C., the Roman general Pompey added Lebanon to the Roman Republic.^{[citation needed]} During and before this time, Phoenicians and Romans exchanged knowledge, habits, and customs.^{[citation needed]}

Lebanon opened a legation in 1946, which was transformed into an embassy in 1955.^{[citation needed]} Both countries signed a Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Navigation in 1949.^{[citation needed]} 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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

The Italian Government supported the reconstruction of Lebanon after the Taef Agreement.^{[citation needed]}

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[edit]

• Foreign relations of Italy
• Iranian influence in Lebanon
• Foreign relations of Lebanon
• Italians in Lebanon

Bibliography[edit]

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

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Lebanese Embassy in Italy (in Italian)