Lebanese President Joseph Aoun will travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday for his first trip abroad since taking office earlier this year, the presidency said.
Aoun, a former army chief thought to be backed by Riyadh and Washington, was elected on January 9, ending a more than two-year power vacuum amid a crippling political and economic crisis.
"Joseph Aoun will travel to Saudi Arabia today," a spokesperson for his office told AFP.
Ties between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia have been strained for years.
"During my visit, I will seek, if possible, to reactivate military aid," Aoun told Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat in an interview on Friday.
The president said he chose Saudi Arabia as his first destination because of its "historic links" with Lebanon and its role as a regional and global player.
"I hope and expect that Saudi Arabia will help us reset relations in the interest of both countries and overcome recent obstacles," he said.
He voiced hopes of "building normal economic ties", saying Lebanon could align with "Vision 2030" -- Riyadh's initiative to diversify its economy beyond oil.
"This would allow the Saudis to return to their second home, Lebanon, while Lebanese look forward to reconnecting with Saudi Arabia," he said.
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