U.S. envoy Tom Barrack said Monday that the United States is not presenting Lebanon with any demands, but rather offering guidance and support to help the country move toward peace, prosperity, and long-term stability, particularly amid a delicate regional climate and persistent domestic fragility.

“This is not my third trip overall to Lebanon. It’s my third visit in recent weeks,” Barrack told Télé Liban. “For me, it feels like coming home. My discussions here build on previous conversations and are focused on how the United States can help secure a ceasefire agreement that allows us to move, under proper terms and implementation mechanisms, to the next stage; one that Lebanon must lead.”

Barrack described his meetings with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam as “constructive, thoughtful, and full of hope,” adding that progress was being made. He confirmed he would meet with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Tuesday morning.

“We Are Not Making Demands”

In response to media reports suggesting the U.S. is pressuring Hezbollah to dismantle its ballistic missile and drone arsenal, Barrack was adamant: “The U.S. has no demands. Our intention is to act as a friend to Lebanon, to help guide it toward the next level of stability and prosperity it deserves. We are here at Lebanon's request, simply offering suggestions.”

“Our proposals are aimed at finding common ground between local parties that have, time and again, failed to reach consensus,” he said. “There have been previous agreements, some involving Israel, others involving minorities, and some involving Hezbollah. A ceasefire agreement is already in place but is not functioning effectively. We were asked to help, much like a surgeon called in to operate on a patient in distress.”

Barrack denied any direct communication with Hezbollah, despite public statements by the group implying otherwise.

“I have never spoken to Hezbollah. If they claim they’re in contact with me, that’s their business. They should be speaking with their counterparts in the Lebanese government.”

“Carrot and Stick” and a Breakdown of Trust

Asked about his earlier comments suggesting that disarmament would require a “carrot and stick” strategy, Barrack said that such an approach was common in any negotiation process.

“This is a classic case of broken trust between Hezbollah, the Lebanese government, and Israel,” he said. “Each side set conditions and expectations that were never met, and as a result, the conflict in the south persists. This instability is hampering all the vital reforms Lebanon is trying to implement."

“Lebanon should be the economic and tourism hub of the region. Period,” he stressed.

Barrack praised the Lebanese people as “the smartest, most talented, and service-oriented in the region,” lamenting that despite this, Lebanon has only received “five cents for every dollar earned by the region” due to a chronic lack of security.

“This is not because the Lebanese aren’t capable or the country isn’t attractive. It’s because there is no safe environment for investment, tourism, or industry. That’s the goal of the ceasefire, and it hasn’t worked,” he said.

Support for Reforms and the Lebanese Army

Barrack expressed optimism about the reforms pursued by the government under Prime Minister Salam.

“What they are aiming to do is enormous,” he said, highlighting progress on banking reform, financial restructuring, and potential projects such as Starlink to modernize connectivity.

“If we want people to come back to Lebanon, we need a functioning banking system, a central bank, correspondent banks, and basic infrastructure like electricity, water, internet, and energy.”

He added that both the government and Parliament were doing “a remarkably good job” tackling these issues methodically, but stressed that “none of this matters without security. No outside investor or institution will come to Lebanon until we can guarantee safety.”

On military aid, Barrack said the U.S. had no preconditions for continuing its support to the Lebanese Armed Forces.

“We respect the army and have provided funding, training, and oversight. But more must be done. We need a structured plan to increase support so the army can provide top-tier military assistance, pay its troops, and maintain sufficient and well-trained peacekeeping forces, not offensive forces.”

He added that if Hezbollah and Lebanon’s Shiite community could trust the national army to protect them, “they may no longer feel the need for their own military structure.”

“The U.S. is committed to supporting the army. UNIFIL has also been a trusted partner in this effort for years.”

UNIFIL Renewal and Border Demarcation with Syria

On the renewal of the UNIFIL mandate in August, Barrack said the matter remains under consideration.

“We are working to determine the most appropriate recommendation. We’re grateful for UNIFIL’s participation and for the UN’s efforts. But we’re now at a point where we need to carefully assess how to restore trust between both sides. A final decision on our recommendation will be made before September,” he said.

Barrack also confirmed that he discussed the decades-long issue of land border demarcation between Lebanon and Syria with Lebanese officials.

“This matter has dragged on for 40 years. It won’t be resolved in a week,” he said. “But my feeling is simple: we need to shift focus toward building hope for future generations. These lines — red, green, blue — drawn by men and women decades ago for different reasons are now meaningless.”

“Time to Move Forward”

Barrack concluded with a message of hope and urgency.

“Lebanon deserves to reclaim its legacy as the jewel of the region, a land that once welcomed Christians, Sunnis, Shiites, Druze, and Jews alike,” he said. “In the next two to three years, with a bit of luck, Lebanon could once again become the center of a new regional dynamic. That’s my hope, and that’s why we’re here.”

He urged the Lebanese to abandon past regrets, sectarian revenge, and hostility.

“Let’s take the best of Lebanon — its people — and redefine how we view those on the other side of the border. Let’s forget the lines. They don’t matter anymore.”