The new French Ambassador to Lebanon, Anne Grillo, arrived in Beirut late on Wednesday and made her first statement from Lebanon in a tweet.
“Very happy to have arrived in Beirut and to take over as the head of the @AmbaFranceLiban (French Embassy in Lebanon) to continue France’s unfailing commitment alongside Lebanon and the Lebanese,” Grillo said.
Grillo landed in Beirut in preparation to submit her credentials to President Michel Aoun before she replaces Bruno Foucher, who served as France’s Ambassador to Lebanon from 2017 until 2020.
The French diplomat, who was previously her country’s ambassador to Mexico, was recently named by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs as the new ambassador to Lebanon.
She boasts 20 years of diplomatic experience and holds a degree in political science. She has also been awarded France’s Legion of Honor as well as the National Order of Merit.
Born in Marseille, France, Grillo has worked in various official positions in her home country, in addition to diplomatic ones in Germany, Morocco, Spain, and, most recently, Mexico.
Her diplomatic mission to Lebanon coincides with a number of French ambassador replacements in the region, including in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Responding to her tweet about Lebanon, caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs Charbel Wehbe wished Grillo success in her duties as the head of the French Embassy in Beirut.