An introduction to the new Lebanese ambassador

The Hague, January 8, 2026, by Bert Kleine Schaars.

Last Thursday, retired General Hans van der Louw and I visited the new Lebanese ambassador to the Netherlands, Mr. Walid Minkara.

We were there on behalf of the Veterans for Lebanon Foundation.
The meeting was relaxed and open. We had a good conversation about Lebanon and how we can work together in the future.
Ambassador Minkara is an experienced diplomat. He recently succeeded Mr. Abdel Sattar Issa, with whom we have enjoyed working closely in recent years.
After five years in The Hague, Mr. Issa returned to Lebanon. He is now Secretary-General of Foreign Affairs. We visited him in Beirut in November.
We talked with Ambassador Minkara about what's happening in Lebanon right now, our travels, and how our foundation is trying to help.
We also talked about our ongoing projects and the transport of relief supplies by container.
We agreed to keep each other updated about what was going on and to look at how we can support each other more. We also hope that the situation in Lebanon will improve soon and return to stability.

About the Veterans for Lebanon Foundation.
Since 2020, the Veterans for Lebanon Foundation has been helping people in Lebanon who need aid.
We also promote Lebanon as a country with a rich culture and history to encourage tourism. We organize trips for UNIFIL veterans to return to Lebanon.
Since we started, we have sent 43 containers of relief supplies to Lebanon. Increasing regulations and rising costs are making this increasingly challenging.
We remain committed to our mission, especially because of the difficult economic situation and the severe lack of social services for vulnerable groups.