Gérard Araud

Gérard Araud retired from the French Foreign Service where he served as Ambassador to the United States (2014-2019). He previously held numerous positions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, notably Director for Strategic Affairs, Security and Disarmament (2000-2003), Ambassador of France to Israel (2003-2006), Director General for Political Affairs and Security (2006-2009), and Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations in New York (2009-2014). He has reached the highest rank in the French diplomatic service ("Ambassadeur de France").

Over the course of his career, Mr. Araud developed specialized knowledge in two key areas: the Middle East and strategic & security issues. He published his memoir in 2019, Passeport diplomatique, a biography of Henry Kissinger, Henry Kissinger, le diplomate du siècle, in 2021 and a book on French diplomatic history in the fall of 2022 Histoires diplomatiques.

He currently is a trustee of the International Crisis Group and a Senior Distinguished Fellow of the Atlantic Council, in Washington DC. He is a columnist for Le Point and has frequently been interviewed as a foreign affairs expert by the media.