Hezbollah’s unprecedented vulnerability after its war with Israel offers a chance for Lebanon to restore its national legitimacy. Saudi Arabia must provide reconstruction aid, military support, and economic re-engagement, conditioned on Lebanon’s reforms to purge Hezbollah’s political influence. This partnership strengthens Lebanese sovereignty, aligns with Saudi’s Vision 2030, and promotes regional stability by countering Iran’s proxy.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Katharine Sorensen is a senior studying Arabic, Classics, and Economics. Deeply interested in the Middle East, she has spent her last three summers in the MENA region: first as a newspaper editor in Morocco in 2022, then studying Arabic in Lebanon in 2023, and most recently working at Bain’s Dubai office. Having thus spent a significant amount of time “on the ground” in the Middle East, Katharine hopes to augment her knowledge and perspective during her Hoover History Lab student fellowship by studying the region through a historical and policy lens. Following her summer in Lebanon, she is particularly interested in Saudi reengagement in twenty-first century Lebanese politics, particularly as a counter to Iranian influence in the nation as exercised through Hezbollah.
RELATED SOURCES
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Lebanon Reborn? How Saudi Reengagement Can Restore Lebanese Sovereignty And Purge Hezbollah by Katharine Sorensen
ABOUT THE SERIES
Policy in Brief by the Hoover History Lab analyzes contemporary global policy challenges, offering insights and providing possible solutions through a historical lens.
