The United States will intervene in its discussions with the Lebanese government regarding the selection of the new Governor of Lebanon's Central Bank, aiming to curb corruption and prevent the financing of Hezbollah through Lebanon's banking system, according to five sources familiar with the matter.
اضافة اعلان
Washington's interest in the selection process marks a further step in its active and unusual involvement in Lebanese affairs, as the country has been experiencing a severe financial crisis for more than five years, leading to an economic collapse.
This intervention also highlights the ongoing U.S. focus on weakening Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group that has seen its influence in the Lebanese government shrink following Israeli strikes during last year’s war.
Since then, Joseph Aoun, a U.S.-backed candidate, was elected president of Lebanon, and a new government was formed with no direct role for Hezbollah. Now, this government must fill vacant positions, including the post of the Central Bank Governor, which has been temporarily managed by an interim governor since July 2023.
According to three Lebanese sources, a Western diplomat, and a U.S. official from the administration of President Donald Trump, the U.S. is reviewing the profiles of several potential candidates for the position.
The sources spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity to discuss the U.S. role in the selection process, which had not been previously reported.
According to two Lebanese sources, the U.S. official, and the Western diplomat, U.S. officials have held meetings with some of the potential candidates in Washington and at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.
These sources, who were briefed on the meetings, said that U.S. officials asked the candidates about their plans to combat "terrorism financing" within Lebanon's banking system and whether they would be willing to confront Hezbollah.
The U.S. State Department, the White House, and the Lebanese Prime Minister's office declined to comment on this information. A spokesperson for the Lebanese presidency also declined to comment on the U.S. role, emphasizing that the most important issue is selecting a qualified candidate for the position.
This development comes as President Donald Trump launched military strikes against the Houthis in Yemen on Saturday in response to their attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
A U.S. official from the Trump administration told Reuters that the meetings were part of "regular diplomacy," but noted that the U.S. is clarifying the criteria for choosing candidates for Lebanon’s government.
“The criteria are clear: No Hezbollah, and no one involved in corruption. This is crucial from an economic perspective,” the official told Reuters.
“We need someone who will implement reforms, advocate for reforms, and reject the tolerance of corruption that has been prevalent in Lebanon.”
A Central Role in Economic Reforms
Lebanese sources have identified several potential candidates for the position of Governor of Lebanon’s Central Bank, including former minister Camille Abu Suleiman, investment firm head Firas Abi Nassif, International Monetary Fund's Jihad Azour, Philippe Jibran, and Karim Sweid, both of whom manage asset management firms.
The next governor will play a key role in any economic and financial reforms, which President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam have promised to prioritize to help Lebanon emerge from the devastating financial crisis that began in 2019.
The crisis was caused by widespread corruption and excessive spending by the ruling political elite, leading to the impoverishment of most Lebanese, the collapse of the Lebanese pound, and the paralysis of the banking sector.
The new Lebanese government is seeking to resume talks with the International Monetary Fund regarding a financial aid program, but implementing economic reforms remains a fundamental condition for this support.
Additionally, Western and Arab countries have linked any support for Lebanon's reconstruction to the implementation of these reforms, especially after the damage caused by last year’s Israeli military campaign in several parts of the country.
In this context, the United States is holding discussions with Saudi Arabia regarding potential candidates for the Central Bank Governor position, according to the Western diplomat and U.S. official.
The Saudi government’s media office did not immediately comment on these discussions.
Changes in the Central Bank's Leadership
The new governor will replace Wassim Mansouri, who has been temporarily managing the Central Bank since the end of Riad Salameh's 30-year tenure, which ended in scandal in 2023.
Throughout his leadership, Salameh was regarded as a "financial architect" who enjoyed the support of the United States, which closely monitored Lebanon's central bank leadership to ensure compliance with U.S. laws on combating the financing of "terrorist" groups, including Hezbollah.
However, the collapse of Lebanon’s financial system tarnished Salameh’s legacy, and one month after his departure in 2023, the United States, the UK, and Canada imposed sanctions on him, accusing him of corruption and enriching himself and his close associates through illicit means.
Salameh also faces financial crime charges in Lebanon and abroad, and Lebanon was placed on the "grey list" of the Financial Action Task Force last year due to its failure to address concerns regarding terrorism financing and money laundering through its banking system. - Reuters
