This article outlines the diplomatic relationship between India and Lebanon: when relations were established, the features the two countries share according to the official brief, visits in both directions and the agreements signed. It is based on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief of July 2026.

Establishment of relations

According to the MEA brief of July 2026, India established diplomatic relations with Lebanon in 1954. The brief lists shared commonalities between the two countries. Besides cultural similarities, these include:

  • a democratic, parliamentary system of government based on a written constitution, basic freedoms and human rights
  • a market economy moving towards greater liberalisation
  • a large pool of educated English-speaking professionals and entrepreneurs
  • a global diaspora

The civil war years and the UN

The brief states that India kept its Embassy in Beirut open and functioning throughout the civil war from 1975 to 1990, in contrast to the Embassies of a large number of other countries. It says this is greatly appreciated by the Lebanese, together with India's traditionally strong linkages with the Arab world and its support for the Palestine cause.

The brief also records that the two countries cooperated closely on issues of mutual interest during their overlap in 2010 as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Visits from India to Lebanon

The brief lists these visits:

  • Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, as Prime Minister, visited Lebanon in 1956 and 1960.
  • Shri Nareshwar Dayal, Secretary (East), visited from 15-17 July 1998 for Foreign Office consultations and was received by Prime Minister Mr Rafik Al-Hariri and Foreign Minister Mr Fares Bouez.
  • Shri E. Ahamed, Minister of State for External Affairs, visited from 30 June to 2 July 2013.
  • Shri Anil Wadhwa, Secretary (East), visited from 27-30 March 2014.
  • Shri M.J. Akbar, Minister of State for External Affairs, visited Beirut in August 2016.
  • Shri Amar Sinha, then Secretary (Economic Relations), visited in May 2017.
  • Shri T.S. Tirumurthi, Secretary (ER), visited in May 2019 and held wide ranging consultations.
  • Dr. Pradeep Rajpurohit, JS(WANA), visited Beirut on 13-16 June 2022 for a Meeting of UNRWA.
  • Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, Secretary (CPV&OIA), and Dr. Pradeep Rajpurohit visited from 01-04 October 2022.

On March 25, a Government of India delegation led by Shri K. J. Alphons, former MOS for Tourism and MeiTy, attended the Consecration Ceremony of Mor Gregorious Joseph as the Catholicos of Syrian Christians in Beirut. The delegation included Sh. V Muraleedharan, former MOS for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, Sh. Benny Behanan, MP, and Sh. Shone George, Member of Kottayam District Panchayat. Sh Alphons read out a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Visits from Lebanon to India

  • Foreign Minister Mr. Fairz Boueiz visited India in 1997 for the NAM Conference in New Delhi.
  • Agriculture Minister Mr. Akram Chehayeb visited Delhi in February 2015 at the invitation of his counterpart, and met Union Agriculture Minister Shri Radha Mohan Singh on 6 February 2015.
  • Former Prime Minister Mr. Fouad Siniora took part in the West Asia Conference organised by IDSA in February 2020 and met External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar.
  • Mr. Louis Lahoud, Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture, visited New Delhi from May 31 to June 4, 2022 for a meeting of the African Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO).
  • Finance Minister H.E. Dr. Youssef El Khalil took part virtually in the 1st and 3rd Sessions of Finance Ministers of the Voice of Global South Summit, on 13 January 2023 and 17 August 2024 respectively.
  • Amb Ibrahim Assaf, Head of the Political & Consular Affairs Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, took part in the 2nd India-Arab Foreign Ministers' Meeting and Senior Officials Meeting in New Delhi on 30-31 January 2026.

Agreements and MoUs

The brief lists ten agreements and MoUs between India and Lebanon. They cover air services, the taxation of airline income, cultural and educational exchange, a university partnership, solar energy, news media and two Quick Impact Projects. Each is described in the article of this guide that covers its subject.

The media agreement is an MoU between Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) and Asian News International (ANI), signed on 24 April 2025.