French foreign minister visits Lebanon amid economic crisis

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian met with Lebanon's president Thursday at the start of his two-day visit to the Mediterranean country that is witnessing the worst economic crisis of its modern history. Le Drian is the first Western official to visit Lebanon since the crisis, which has been unfolding since last year. It has deepened since the government defaulted on its debt, the onset of coronavirus restrictions and stalled talks with the International Monetary Fund over an economic rescue plan.