Morgan Ortagus warns, time is running out and patience has limits
May 27, 2025
Morgan Ortagus
The visits of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration’s envoy to the U.S. TrumpTrump.
Morgan Ortagus to Lebanon Double messages: One confirms Washington’s continued interest in Lebanon.
The second conveys the U.S. administration’s impatience with Lebanon’s reluctance to implement substantive reforms.
The “belle of Trumpian diplomacy” doesn’t mince words when it comes to reforms.
She does not master the art of diplomatic innuendo, but uses clear and harsh language inspired by Trump’s political lexicon.
It reflects an accumulated discontent with the performance of the Lebanese political class.
Morgan Ortagus : No results… no trust
Despite her apparent praise for the new ruling, Ortagus did not back down from her famous phrase:
“We don’t focus on what we’re told, we focus on the consequences of what we’re told.”
That’s the phrase I used at the IMF meetings.
remains the consistent U.S. position: No trust without tangible results.
According to sources familiar with the atmosphere of her visits Ortagus’ resentment has doubled recently as a result of the Lebanese state’s disregard for the fast-moving political signals in the region.
starting with the Gulf-American summit in Riyadh, and ending with the new understandings that are drawing the map of the Middle East’s balances.
Lebanon’s vacant seat … and lost opportunities
Lebanon, a country historically and culturally qualified to play a strategic role in Western-Arab understandings.
It chose to stay at the back of the train, even behind Syria itself, which received a sudden boost of support at the summit Saudi Arabia.
Sources close to Ortagus revealed that the symbolic handshake between Donald Trump and Ahmed al-Sharaa In Riyadh, it could have been a “trilogy” if Lebanon knew how to capitalize on the opportunities.
But reality is something else: Hezbollah’s domination of the official decision and the paralysis of the state from sovereign action.
Hezbollah tries to nationalize the loss
Circles close to Washington warn that Hezbollah, which nibbled at power when it was strong, is trying to nationalize the loss. is now trying to generalize its losses on the country after being exposed regionally.
The logic of “alone in profit and partner in defeat” is no longer acceptable, neither Arab nor international, especially with the escalation of US-Saudi coordination on Lebanon, through the continuous communication between Ortagus and the prince Yazeed bin Farhan.
Iran’s negotiations … no consolation for its allies
Hezbollah’s bets on the Tehran-Washington negotiations are already lost, because any prospective Iranian-American settlement will come as part of a new regional arrangementwhere there is no room for fluidity or maneuvering, but for a clear equation:
“Who is with us and who is against us.”
Israel bombs … America asks … and Morgan Ortagus warns
On the other hand, Washington views Israel’s repeated incursions into southern Lebanon not only as violations, but as indicators of The failure of the Lebanese state to disarm Hezbollah, especially north of the Litani.
While the IDF takes over in the south, the Lebanese state remains helpless, giving Tel Aviv an excuse to stay in the five disputed points.
As a reminder, the Americans have told Lebanese officials their willingness to ensure Israel’s full withdrawalThe Jerusalem Post.
In exchange for Lebanon’s implementation of parallel sovereign steps, including the demarcation of the land border and the strict implementation of Resolution 1701.
Lebanon’s economy… no reform, no rescue
The U.S. complaint is not limited to politics and security. The economy is also at the center of the crisis.
Passing a bank secrecy law alone is not enough, Ortagus says.
If other reforms are not implemented and finalized, most notably Bank restructuring and address the fiscal gap that is gnawing away at the country’s financial structure.
On the forum Qatar Ortagus was candid when she revealed that she has “A big plan for Lebanon that could make the IMF obsolete”The New York Times
Provided it becomes a country that attracts investments instead of being drained by more debt.
Last message from Morgan Ortagus : Time is running out!
The U.S. message is clear: No economic recovery without a sovereign decision.
There is no safe environment for investment without one army, one authority and one legitimate weapon.
According to information, Morgan Ortagus’ upcoming visit to Lebanon next month will Decisive and final messages.
Either clear answers and decisions to be implemented on the ground.
or Lebanon will miss the last chanceand remain mired in a spiral of crises… by choice.
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