Erdogan's Son Holds High-Level Meetings During Extensive Visit to Lebanon
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met in Beirut with Bilal Erdogan, the son of Turkey's president, amid a three-day visit aimed at expanding Ankara's economic and political influence in Lebanon.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met on Thursday at the Baabda Presidential Palace with Necmettin Bilal Erdogan, the son of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. According to reports by the Voice of Lebanon radio station and the Lebanese daily Al-Liwaa, Turkish Ambassador to Beirut Murat Luetem also participated in the meeting, though initial details regarding the content of the talks were not disclosed.
The meeting is part of a broader three-day visit by Bilal Erdogan to Lebanon, which includes stops in Beirut, Tripoli, and Akkar in the northern part of the country. According to the Al-Diyar newspaper, the visit is framed as part of a Turkish effort to expand its presence in Lebanon through economic and public ties.
The Al-Akhbar newspaper, which is affiliated with Hezbollah, reported that Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri had invited Erdogan months ago. Sources cited by the newspaper indicated that the goal is to expand bilateral relations beyond official government and diplomatic contacts to develop ties with political, religious, social, and economic figures in Lebanon.
The visit's itinerary includes meetings with the three heads of the Lebanese government, as well as with Walid Jumblatt and Bahia Hariri. The newspaper emphasized that, contrary to previous reports, no meetings have been scheduled with Hezbollah or with the leaders of other political factions.
In northern Lebanon, the schedule includes meetings with parliament members and public figures in Tripoli, a visit to the historic Al-Mansouri Great Mosque, and a tour of Ottoman-era buildings as part of a planned restoration initiative. Bilal Erdogan, a 45-year-old businessman active in education, culture, and traditional sports, holds degrees from Indiana University and Harvard University, and previously worked for the World Bank. He currently heads the World Ethnosport Confederation and holds senior roles in Turkish educational foundations and academic institutions.
