US President Joe Biden congratulated his Lebanese counterpart Michel Aoun on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, on the conclusion of negotiations to demarcate the southern maritime border with Israel.

This came during a phone call Aoun received from Biden, according to the Lebanese presidency's account on "Twitter".

The presidency stated that "Biden confirmed the United States' support for Lebanon to achieve stability, empower it to strengthen its economy, and benefit from its natural resources."

Earlier on Tuesday, the Lebanese presidency announced in a statement that the final version of the US proposal regarding the maritime border demarcation agreement with Israel is "satisfactory to Lebanon, meets its demands, and preserves its rights in its natural wealth."

Israel also announced its approval of the draft agreement presented by the US mediator Amos Hochstein.

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid described the anticipated agreement with Lebanon on Tuesday as "historic".

The two countries engaged in indirect negotiations for two years over demarcating the border in an area rich in oil and natural gas in the Mediterranean Sea, covering an area of 860 square kilometers.

Gas Exploration

In a related context, Lebanese Energy Minister Walid Fayad announced on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, that "TotalEnergies" will start gas exploration immediately after the final agreement on the border demarcation is reached.

Fayad's statement came following the meeting he held with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and a delegation from the French company.

In a press conference, Fayad pointed out that "the Ministry of Energy is concerned with exploration, Total will prepare the plan, we will ensure it is quick, we will prepare the logistics and work will start immediately."

He also explained that the French company promised to accelerate oil exploration as well in the Lebanese fields, adding: "Lebanon will become an oil country, and Total's commitment is the best proof of that."

This development came after Lebanon and Israel had raised comments on a previous draft agreement sent by the US envoy Hochstein to both sides in early October 2022.

It is worth noting that the United States has been mediating for two years between Lebanon and Israel to reach an agreement aimed at demarcating their maritime borders and removing obstacles to oil and gas exploration.

The main source of dispute was the Karish gas field, which Israel has always affirmed is fully "within its exclusive maritime borders" and is not subject to negotiation in the indirect maritime border talks with Lebanon, while Beirut considers the field to be in a disputed area.

"Hezbollah" has in the past issued a series of threats to Israel, warning it against undertaking any activity in Karish before reaching an agreement on maritime border demarcation.