Foreign Minister Joe Rajji alongside Prime Minister Nawaf Salam at the inauguration of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, on Sept. 22, 2026. (Photo taken from Rajji's X account)

In New York, Joe Rajji returns to the spotlight

The post-UNIFIL period was at the heart of negotiations led by the prime minister and foreign minister on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.

26 Sep 2026, 09:26 by Yara ABI AKL · L'Orient Today

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Foreign Minister Joe Rajji were especially active on the sidelines of their participation this week in the U.N. General Assembly. The two men, who met with numerous Western and regional officials, notably discussed the question of what comes after UNIFIL, as the U.N. mission’s mandate in southern Lebanon nears its end. Wednesday’s talks with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Thursday’s with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian also allowed them to reaffirm their commitment to Lebanese sovereignty and the principle of non-interference. Read more Salam, Rajji call for finding UNIFIL's replacement in meetings with high-ranking officials in New York Despite its protocol nature, this dynamic helped strengthen the position of the foreign minister, after a long sidelining, notably due to his disagreement...

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