The US Navy Just Made Its First Ever Port Call In Lebanon. Why Now?

When the Choctaw County, a fast transport ship, pulled into Beirut on Sept. 21 for the first-ever US Navy port visit to Lebanon, the messaging from the Navy was all about improving the military-to-military relations between the two countries.

But for analysts watching the situation in Lebanon closely, the timing signals more than just military friendliness….[A]nalysts say the arrival of the ship is also a signal of support for the flailing Lebanese government – and particularly its military.

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[T]he Pentagon announced in June that it will donate three U.S. Coast Guard Protector-class patrol boats to the Lebanese Navy next year.

[I]t was hard to miss that during a Sept. 27 visit to the ship, LAF [Lebanese Armed Forces] commander Gen. Joseph Aoun went beyond talking purely a naval relationship while stressing the importance of “the continuous support of our friendly countries, foremost of which is the United States.”

USNS Choctaw County. File photo.