Gerard Araud – Keynote Speaker

Gérard Araud held numerous positions within the French 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 has developed specialized knowledge in two key areas: Middle East and strategic & security issues. As regards the latter, he was the French negotiator on the Iranian nuclear issue from 2006 to 2009. He has written numerous articles in French reviews. He has published his Memoirs in 2019 (“Passeport diplomatique’), a biography of Henry Kissinger (‘’Henry Kissinger, le diplomate du siècle’’) and two books of French diplomatic history (‘’Histoires diplomatiques’’ – 2022 and ‘’Nous étions seuls 1919-1939’’ – 2023).

Gérard Araud is advising several companies. He is trustee of the International Crisis Group, Senior Distinguished Fellow of the Atlantic Council in Washington DC and senior adviser to Portland Communications. He is a columnist for the French weekly ‘’Le Point’’ and the French Information TV LCI. He has frequently been interviewed as an foreign affairs expert by French, Swiss and Canadian medias and by CNN International, the BBC and other English speaking TV and radios.