Erdogan's Son Visits Lebanon Amid Turkey's Regional Influence Push

Bilal Erdogan, son of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, arrived in Lebanon for a three-day visit aimed at strengthening Ankara's influence in the country. During his trip, he met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda on Thursday, November 12. The Turkish ambassador to Beirut, Murat Luyem, also attended the meeting, the details of which were not officially disclosed. Lebanese media reported that Bilal Erdogan's itinerary includes visits to Tripoli and the Akkar region in northern Lebanon, in addition to Beirut. Turkey is keen to bolster ties with Lebanon through state-level, economic, social, religious, and political channels. His schedule includes meetings with Lebanese officials, including three heads of state institutions, and politicians Walid Jumblatt and Bahia al-Hariri. In the north, he is expected to meet with parliament members and public figures. Bilal Erdogan also plans to visit the Al-Mansouri Grand Mosque and inspect Ottoman-era historical buildings slated for restoration. Notably, according to the Al-Akhbar newspaper, meetings with Hezbollah representatives and other political parties are not part of his agenda. The 45-year-old businessman, involved in education, cultural projects, and traditional sports, holds a master's degree from Harvard and previously worked at the World Bank. He currently heads the World Union of Traditional Sports and holds leadership positions in Turkish educational organizations, including as deputy chairman of the Ibn Haldun University board. His international engagements and meetings with foreign leaders have drawn attention, with some speculating he may represent his father's interests abroad or be a potential political successor.