Lebanon is a founding member of the United Nations and the League of Arab States and is a member of all international organizations under the support of the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Development Association.

Lebanon maintains diplomatic relations with 147 countries and has 95 diplomatic and consular missions abroad, hosts 141 diplomatic missions including the diplomatic missions of the EU and the Arab League and a number of international organizations (Such as the United Nations Regional Office for Education, Science and Culture in the Arab Countries, the United Nations Development Programme, Food and Agriculture Office).

The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) relocated its headquarters to Beirut in October 1997 and the World Bank opened an office in Beirut in January 2000.

On October 16, 2009, the General Assembly of the United Nations elected Lebanon to serve as a nonpermanent member of the Security Council for a two‐year term starting January 1, 2010.

Lebanon has a long tradition of openness to the international community, with close ties to the Arab world, Europe and America.  The Government is implementing a comprehensive strategy for trade liberalization.

The Great Arab Free Trade Agreement governs the country’s trade relations with most of the Arab countries members of the Arab League.

On June 17, 2002, Lebanon signed an association agreement with the EU, as part of the Euro‐Mediterranean Partnership initiative.

Since 1992, Lebanon has ratified 54 agreements for the promotion and protection of investments Lebanon applied for membership in the WTO and was granted observer status in April 1999.

Lebanon has agreements with 32 countries for double taxation avoidance and the prevention of fiscal evasion on taxes from income and capital.