Von der Leyen Calls for Lasting Peace in Lebanon, Says Pause Is Not Enough

(MENAFN) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said that short-term reductions in fighting in Lebanon do not go far enough, urging instead a durable political solution to ensure long-term stability in the region.

Speaking at a press conference held after an informal gathering of European and regional leaders in Nicosia, she emphasized that security across the Middle East is deeply interconnected. The event included participation from Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

“A key lesson of the past weeks is that security is indivisible. You cannot have stability in the Middle East or the Gulf while Lebanon is in flames. So we call for the respect of Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity,” she said, according to reports.

She added that the situation requires more than temporary arrangements, stating, “A temporary pause is not enough. We need a permanent path to peace,” she said.

While welcoming recent ceasefire efforts in the region, she warned that such agreements remain fragile and do not yet provide a foundation for lasting stability.

She also linked broader regional security concerns to unresolved strategic issues, arguing that any sustainable peace framework would need to address what she described as risks posed by Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, which she characterized as a significant threat to stability in the region.

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