The Shape of the Nation to Come
As part of its ongoing Guest Speaker Series, the Department of Political and International Studies (POLIS) at LAU’s School of Arts and Sciences hosted Major General Fadi Makhoul, a senior Lebanese military officer and national security strategist, to present his vision for a national security strategy on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
Moderated by POLIS Chair and Professor Imad Salamey, the presentation proposed a multidimensional approach to national security planning, underscoring the need for a long-term, preventive, and integrated strategy.
Dr. Makhoul’s exhaustive roadmap comprises governance reforms, a political reflection on Lebanon’s sovereignty and position in the international community, as well as a candid national dialogue at multiple levels.
He outlined a step-by-step matrix to transform Lebanon from a failing state into a stable and prosperous one through scientific, non-sectarian strategic planning. Dr. Makhoul’s plan encompasses the political, economic, military, social, financial, and cybersecurity dimensions of national security, and analyzes international, regional, and domestic environments to identify Lebanon’s threats and core national interests.
Based on this assessment, he proposed an integrated national security strategy built around reforming governance, strengthening state institutions, combating corruption, revitalizing the economy, rebuilding citizenship, and addressing both external threats— particularly Israel—and internal and terrorist threats, with the ultimate goal of restoring sovereignty, good governance, national unity, and sustainable development.
Since enlisting in the Lebanese Armed Forces in 1991, Dr. Makhoul has held key command and leadership roles in the Marine Commandos and the Special Forces, and has served at military training institutions, where he played a central role in developing specialized forces doctrine, counter-terrorism strategies and national defense planning.
He holds a PhD in Political Science focused on Lebanon’s national security strategy, multiple master’s degrees in strategic and administrative studies, and is a Certified Anti-Corruption Manager. In addition to extensive operational experience, he is an academic lecturer, a published researcher and the recipient of numerous national and military decorations for merit, leadership and service.
The event provided attendees with a fresh perspective on the challenges and opportunities that can be unlocked for Lebanon as the country strives to rebuild its institutions and uphold its legitimacy after years of successive crises.