30th Conference of Ambassadors (6-7 January 2025)

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Every year since 1993, all the heads of France’s diplomatic missions have met in Paris for the Conference of Ambassadors. These Conferences aim to affirm France’s principles, interests and solidarity. The 30th Conference, in Paris on 6 and 7 January 2025, addressed major international challenges such as global security, Defence Europe, feminist foreign policy, manipulation of information and the diplomatic action of local governments.

A 30th Conference in a diplomatic continuum

The first Conference was held in 1993, in a context where France’s diplomatic service had to adapt to the situation following the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Thirty years on, it now addresses major international challenges such as global security, Defence Europe, feminist foreign policy, manipulation of information and the diplomatic action of local governments

The 2025 Conference of Ambassadors was an opportunity to discuss together the three major events France is hosting this year:

The Conference of Ambassadors is an opportunity for all ambassadors to talk, helping them to organize and to pass on the results in their countries of residence.

The discussions addressed issues including disinformation, artificial intelligence, digital security and the economy, which are central to the Transformation Agenda for France’s foreign service, which was launched in March 2023. They reflected the need to adapt our foreign policy in response to a changing world, thanks to the efforts of every embassy and consulate.

Following the French Foreign Service Review that concluded in March 2023, new human resources have been deployed to address France’s strategic and geographic priorities. In 2023 and 2024, 272 new positions were created, and dozens more are planned for 2025. They will be focused primarily on the diplomatic network and field work. This will consolidate France’s international presence.

Fiftieth anniversary of the Strategy, Analysis and Policy Planning Centre (CAPS)

The Foreign Ministry’s Strategy, Analysis and Policy Planning Centre was created in 1973 by Michel Jobert. Its role is to provide food for thought on our foreign policy, to build bridges with researchers and thinktanks, and produce new ideas.

Several projects are underway for 2025:

  • Proposals for the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement;
  • Contributions to the next steps of the foreign service’s Transformation Agenda;
  • Revival of the Les Carnets du CAPS journal.

Support for the French economy

Entitled “Diplomacy to serve France and the French people”, the Conference’s other main theme was supporting the French economy. France’s foreign policy seeks to attract more and more foreign investors to France and help all French businesses export and expand internationally, supporting jobs at home.

A Conference focused on Europe

This year’s Conference saw the participation of the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski , to discuss the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which began on 1 January and will end on 30 June 2025. His invitation was the sign of the importance attached to the European agenda, to the Future of the EU and to Defence Europe, and to the quality of the relationship between France and Poland, as well as the to the fully operational Weimar Triangle format (France-Germany-Poland).