On September 10, THE American Ambassador in Beirut, David Hale participated in a reception at the Jounieh Military Complex in honor of the International Military Education and Training (IMET) Program. IMET has been one of the cornerstones of the American-Lebanese military partnership through which America has provided training and education to more than 2,800 Lebanese military officers since 2005.
The IMET program provides professional development opportunities to Lebanese military officers in order to strengthen the LAF’s ability to fulfill its core mission as Lebanon’s sole defense force, capable of securing the borders and defending the sovereignty and independence of the state. On an individual level, the courses bring together Lebanese, American, and other foreign military officers for a valuable opportunity to build life-long personal and professional ties that we hope will lead to an even stronger military partnership in the years ahead.
In his remarks, Ambassador Hale praised the dedication and performance of the Lebanese solider. He also reiterated America’s commitment to supporting the institution of the LAF in its goal to further strengthen, professionalize, and develop its fighting forces. Ambassador Hale noted that the IMET program is just one part of America’s steadfast support for Lebanon’s long-term security and prosperity. Since 2006, the United States has invested more than $1.3 billion into security assistance for Lebanon, making it the fifth largest recipient of U.S. military foreign assistance in the world.
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