The “Magic Touch” in DC: Inside Trump’s Excessive Pace Diplomacy for Lebanon – JP

The dramatic announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is the result of a lightning fast diplomatic offensive launched directly from the White House. According to senior administration officials, the process gained momentum on Tuesday during the first round of negotiations in Washington, where Lebanese representatives made a pivotal acknowledgment that Hezbollah represents a shared problem for both Beirut and Jerusalem. This breakthrough allowed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to move to the next stage, facilitating intense late night communications with both sides.

President Donald Trump took a hands on approach to the finalization of the deal. On Wednesday evening, he spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure Israeli consent under specific conditions. Following this, Rubio contacted Lebanese President Joseph Aoun during the night. The diplomatic circle was closed on Thursday morning when Trump himself held separate calls with both Aoun and Netanyahu to finalize the memorandum of understanding. This document establishes a 10 day pause, during which the United States will mediate direct negotiations aimed at a permanent peace treaty and the total disarmament of Hezbollah.

Trump has expressed immense confidence in the process, announcing that he intends to host both leaders at the White House as early as next week. This would mark the first time the heads of the two nations have met for significant talks in over four decades. When asked what would make this attempt successful compared to previous failures, Trump simply replied, “I, I,” suggesting his personal involvement and the “magic touch” of his administration would be the deciding factor. The American strategy involves a clear trade off: the neutralization of Hezbollah’s military power in exchange for massive international humanitarian and economic aid for the collapsing Lebanese state.



Source
Las Vegas News Magazine