GIS Weekly Brief #24

?? Weekly update by Prince Michael von Liechtenstein

A ceasefire has been reached between Israeli armed forces and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Under the agreement, Hezbollah will not return to areas of southern Lebanon within a specified range of the Israeli border. Israeli forces have already cleared Hezbollah from these zones.The United Nations aims to enforce the agreement, with security in these areas to be managed by the Lebanese army and UN forces.

This presents an opportunity for Lebanon to fully remove Hezbollah from its territory. With Hezbollah now weakened, there is hope that the country’s political structures and armed forces will be strong enough to eliminate its presence. Hezbollah, long armed by Iran’s regime, has effectively held all of Lebanon hostage.

It is crucial for the United States and Europe to support Lebanon’s traditional ethnic and regional forces, helping them resist Hezbollah and secure the nation’s future.

?? This week’s relevant geopolitical events

• Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, a proponent of full Georgian sovereignty and EU membership, has?vowed to remain in office?even if the newly elected parliament appoints a replacement. The Georgian Dream party, which recently won parliamentary elections in a disputed vote, has declared its intention to end EU accession talks, sparking widespread protests.
• French Prime Minister Michel Barnier is struggling to pass his budget?through Parliament. France’s high debt levels, coupled with rising interest costs and declining debt quality, pose a significant risk to financial market stability.
• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has finalized the new commission?after a process marked by extensive compromises.
• Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is under significant pressure?after jihadist rebel forces overtook most of the country's largest city, Aleppo.

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