Lebanese Druze leader Walid Joumblatt, former president of the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP), was received on Saturday in Moscow by Russian Foreign Minister Serguei Lavrov. Also present at the meeting was Mikhail Bogdanov, Deputy Foreign Minister and advisor to Vladimir Putin for the Middle East and Africa.
"This intimate and friendly meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the international and regional situation," said Mr. Joumblatt on X.
The Druze leader's position is not clear. He is opposed to Hezbollah attacks on Israel, has no sympathy for the Shiite movement funded by Iran, but is expected to differentiate himself by calling for a return to sovereignty in Lebanon.
As for the Russians, they are in discussions with everyone in Lebanon. The Iranians, Hezbollah, the Sunnis... They play them against each other with a proven destabilization strategy.