HomeCountries & Areas…Lebanon

# Lebanon

		Subscribe		                  -  View Fact SheetEmbassies & Consulates
Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs
International Travel Information
What you need to know before you go: visas, Embassy & Consulate locations, vaccinations, etc.
International Travel Information: Learn More Current Travel Advisories
Level 3: Reconsider Travel
Learn More								U.S. Relationship							-  												U.S.-Lebanon Relations											 
-  												U.S. Assistance to Lebanon											 
-  												Bilateral Economic Relations											 
													U.S.-Lebanon Relations													Lebanon’s history since independence in 1943 has been marked by periods of political turmoil interspersed with prosperity built on its position as a regional center for finance and trade. The country’s 1975-90 civil war was followed by years of social and political instability. Sectarianism is a key element of Lebanese political life. Neighboring Syria long influenced Lebanon’s foreign and domesticLebanon’s history since independence in 1943 has been marked by periods of political turmoil interspersed with prosperity built on its position as a regional center for finance and trade. The country’s 1975-90 civil war was followed by years of social and political instability. Sectarianism is a key element of Lebanese political life. Neighboring Syria long influenced Lebanon’s foreign and domestic policies, and its military forces were in Lebanon from 1976 until 2005. After the Syrian military withdrew, the Lebanon-based terrorist group Hizballah and Israel continued to engage in attacks and counterattacks against each other, fighting a brief war in 2006 and engaging in cross-border skirmishes in 2019 and 2020. Lebanon’s borders with both Syria and Israel remain unresolved.Collapse U.S.-Lebanon Relations															Read more about U.S.-Lebanon Relations																												U.S. Assistance to Lebanon													Since 2006, the United States has provided more than $5.5 billion in total foreign assistance to Lebanon. Specifically, the United States has provided more than $3 billion in assistance since 2006 to address both economic support and security needs. This assistance aims to strengthen strategic partners such as Lebanon’s security forces; ensure key services reach the Lebanese people; preserve theSince 2006, the United States has provided more than $5.5 billion in total foreign assistance to Lebanon. Specifically, the United States has provided more than $3 billion in assistance since 2006 to address both economic support and security needs. This assistance aims to strengthen strategic partners such as Lebanon’s security forces; ensure key services reach the Lebanese people; preserve the multi-sectarian character of Lebanon; and counter Hizballah’s narrative and influence. Support for Lebanon’s security agencies and other strategic partners remains at the core of our efforts to preserve stability while countering and delegitimizing Hizballah’s false narrative and justification for retaining its arms in Lebanon and in the region.Collapse U.S. Assistance to Lebanon															Read more about U.S. Assistance to Lebanon																												Bilateral Economic Relations													Lebanon has historically been a free-market economy with a strong laissez-faire commercial tradition. Since the fall of 2019, however, Lebanon has been mired in an economic and financial crisis from which it has yet to recover. In March 2020, the government defaulted on $31 billion in eurobonds, dealing a significant blow to the country’s creditworthiness. As of April 2022, theLebanon has historically been a free-market economy with a strong laissez-faire commercial tradition. Since the fall of 2019, however, Lebanon has been mired in an economic and financial crisis from which it has yet to recover. In March 2020, the government defaulted on $31 billion in eurobonds, dealing a significant blow to the country’s creditworthiness. As of April 2022, the government has yet to implement economic reforms necessary to reduce overall debt and put the country on a sound economic footing. In 2018, major U.S. exports to Lebanon were vehicles, mineral fuel and oil, products of chemical industries, machinery and electrical instruments, prepared foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco, and vegetable products. The U.S. and Lebanon have signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement to help promote an attractive investment climate, expand trade relations, and remove obstacles to trade and investment between the two countries. The United States does not have a bilateral investment treaty with Lebanon or an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation. The long-standing U.S. Generalized System of Preferences program allows Lebanon to export select products to the United States without paying duties or customs.Collapse Bilateral Economic Relations															Read more about Bilateral Economic Relations															Integrated Country Strategies
The Integrated Country Strategy is the four-year strategy articulating U.S. priorities in a given country. The Chief of Mission leads the strategy.
View Integrated Country StrategiesInvestment Climate Statements
The Investment Climate Statements analyze a variety of economies that are or could be markets for U.S. businesses and provide information on the business climates.
View Investment Climate StatementsFiscal Transparency Report
The Fiscal Transparency Report analyzes government transparency and identifies needed changes to improve public spending accountability.
View Fiscal Transparency ReportDiscover More2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices2022 Report on International Religious Freedom2023 Trafficking in Persons Report
View all Department Reports and Publications
COVID-19 Vaccine Deliveries
Since December, 2021 the United States has donated **613,340** safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses with the people of Lebanon. This includes 277,340 Moderna and 336,000 J&J doses. Of the 613,340 vaccine doses, 55% were donated in partnership with COVAX and 45% were donated through bilateral agreements.

The United States is committed to leading an international and coordinated effort to accelerate access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines to meet global needs. The United States is working with other governments and partners including COVAX, Caricom, and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) to protect communities from COVID-19 and apply lessons from this pandemic to enhance health security now and in the future.

Learn more about our work Delivering Vaccines and on COVID-19 Recovery.
More Vaccine Deliveries HighlightsMarch 4, 2024
Department Press Briefing – March 4, 2024
February 20, 2024
Department Press Briefing – February 20, 2024
February 17, 2024
Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Séjourné
February 14, 2024
Department Press Briefing – February 14, 2024
February 8, 2024
Department Press Briefing – February 8, 2024
							VIEW ALL NEWS						
Tags
Bureau of Near Eastern AffairsLebanonBack to Top- White House
- USA.gov
- Office of the Inspector General
- Archives
- Contact Us
follow usFacebookTwitterInstagramYouTubeFlickrGovDelivery- Privacy Policy
- Accessibility Statement
- Copyright Information
- FOIA
- No FEAR Act
U.S. Department *of* StateThe Lessons of 1989: Freedom and Our Future