Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Monday, Jun 23, 2025

Meet the “communicator 2.0” and Arabic voice of diplomacy at the French Foreign Ministry

Meet the “communicator 2.0” and Arabic voice of diplomacy at the French Foreign Ministry

Since his appointment on Jan. 23 as ambassador in charge of communication in Arabic for the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Patrice Paoli has been the Arab voice of French diplomacy in the media and on social networks.
He regularly posts messages and videos in Arabic on his official Twitter account, for example, and engages with users in discussions about the topics they cover.

This might not seem out of the ordinary in the internet age but it marks a significant development for a ministry previously known for its more conservative and persistently traditional approach to media and public relations.

Paoli, a former ambassador to Lebanon and several other countries, said his mission is to express France’s positions in more modern ways, far removed from the well-beaten path of formal press releases and written statements. He is, in a way, the “communicator 2.0” of the Quai d’Orsay, the home of the French Foreign Office, tasked with being the voice of France in the Arab media on issues related to foreign policy.

His post will develop over time, Paoli told Arab News en Francais, adding: “We’ll see how it evolves. My mission is to see if this means of communication is useful and what is its added value.

“The idea took shape last autumn when someone proposed this post to me after I returned from my post (as ambassador) in Cuba.”

The goal, he explained, is a more personalized form of communication and “to express ourselves about different topics in plain language by putting words to situations in a different way from a press release.” There is also a desire to share “a little of what France is and (break) the stereotypes people may have of the diplomat.”

The most important goal for Paoli is to set a template for the future by creating more empathy, and humanizing and putting a real face on institutional communications.

“I’m going to retire soon, so I’m working to define the post and establish it in the time I have left and to pass the baton to someone else next autumn,” he explained.

His mission is, above all, to develop a social media presence through which French officials can talk to the Arab world about political issues as well as culture, history, even literature and sport.

He describes it as “a work of passion that I’m taking with the direction of communication and the press. It’s a complement to the remarkable work of this direction, in a world of communication that’s more and more complicated, where it’s necessary to go very quickly and take everything that’s happening into account.”

During a personal trip to Marseille a few days ago, Paoli posted several messages on Twitter touting the plurality of this Mediterranean city: A place of blended culture and the entry point to France in the south of the country.

While on a recent trip to Cairo to participate in a meeting of French ambassadors to the Middle East, he tweeted about his visit to the Pyramids of Giza, the recently renovated Blue Mosque, and his general impressions of returning to the large Arab capital after many years away.

As a specialist in the Arab world, Paoli was immersed in Arab culture during his youth as a result of the posts that his diplomat father held, and then as his own diplomatic career developed. This took him to Egypt, Yemen, Jordan and Lebanon, and he was also director of the Foreign Ministry’s North Africa and Middle East Department from 2008 to 2012.

His love for the Arabic language, among several other languages, dates back to his childhood. At the age of four, while his family lived in Washington, he learned English. Later, in Libya, he learned German and Russian.

He was introduced to Arabic when he attended a French high school in Tripoli, where it was a required class. He recalled that it was difficult to begin with but, such was his admiration for his Arabist diplomat father, in whose footsteps he dreamed of following, he persevered and won a prize for his ability in the language.

Paoli pursued his studies in classical Arabic at the National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations in Paris, then passed the Concours d’Orient to join the ranks of diplomats. It was therefore with great enthusiasm that, in the twilight of a long and distinguished career, he accepted his current post.

In a sense, his career has come full circle and it represents a most harmonious end to a professional life and a love of Arabic that began with the first book he read in the language, Tambo le Petit Lion — and he still treasures his copy, which has pride of place on a shelf in his office at the Quai d’Orsay.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
Black Box Recovered from Air India Crash Site
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Israel Launches 'Operation Rising Lion' Targeting Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites
Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg
IMF Warns of Severe Global Trade War Impacts on Emerging Markets
Syria to Reconnect to Global Economy After 14 Years of Isolation
Israel Confirms Arming Gaza Clan to Counter Hamas Influence
Global News Roundup: From Ukraine's strategic military strikes and Russia's demands and Tensions Escalate in Ukraine, to serious legal issues faced by Britons in Bali and Trump's media criticism, the latest developments highlight a turbulent landscape
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
Iran Warns Europe Against Politicizing UN Nuclear Report
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
×