Lebanon's sovereignty incomplete without state control over war and peace decisions, PM says

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has said that his country's sovereignty cannot be considered complete unless the state alone holds authority over decisions on war and peace, stressing the need to fully implement the Taif Agreement and strengthen national institutions.

The Taif Agreement, signed in 1989, ended Lebanon's civil war and laid out a framework for power-sharing among the country's religious communities as well as steps toward disarming militias and reasserting state authority. Successive Lebanese governments have cited the accord's incomplete implementation as a persistent obstacle to centralizing security and foreign-policy decisions under the state.

Salam's remarks reflect a long-running debate in Lebanon over the role of non-state armed actors in decisions that affect the country's security and its relations with neighboring states. Supporters of consolidating such authority within state institutions argue that it is essential for Lebanon to be treated as a unified, sovereign actor in regional and international affairs.

The prime minister did not elaborate publicly on specific new measures tied to the statement, but his comments align with previous calls from his government for building up the capacity of Lebanon's official institutions, including its armed forces, as a step toward fuller sovereignty.

Lebanon continues to navigate a complex political and security landscape, and officials have repeatedly pointed to institution-building as central to the country's long-term stability.