The Syrian Foreign Ministry and the Turkish presidency both denied a Reuters report that a Syrian Foreign Ministry delegation had met Hezbollah representatives in Türkiye. Despite the ministry's insistence that relations between Syria and Lebanon should be conducted exclusively through state institutions, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani told Lebanese media recently in Beirut: “If the national interest requires a meeting with Hezbollah, we are open to it.” For its part, Hezbollah neither confirmed nor denied the visit.
Whether the report is true or not, the broader trajectory of relations between the two countries warrants scrutiny. Repeated reports of arms smuggling across the border, along with the presence of Hezbollah-linked cells operating in Syria, have led some to see grounds for a meeting between the two sides. If such a meeting has taken place, or does take place, the Lebanese side bears some responsibility. Lebanese state institutions remain unable to secure the border or end Hezbollah's dominance over decisions of war and peace.
Syria, too, bears part of the responsibility. Officials from the two countries have made many visits, yet interior and defence ministers have often been absent from these meetings, as have intelligence and senior security officials. With the region in such a fragile and sensitive state, and Iran continuing its efforts to destabilise it and spread instability, questions of protocol and who visits whom should not obstruct serious discussion of security matters.
The problem on the Lebanese side is a reluctance to speak openly about concerns in their relationship with Syria. At times, they remain silent even over what they see as infringements of Lebanon’s sovereignty or violations of its laws. On the Syrian side, the problem is a greater preoccupation with appearances than with what lies behind them. Some are still caught up in the euphoria of victory, without giving enough thought to the fact that relations between the two countries have yet to become, in the fullest sense, a genuine state-to-state relationship.
