Hugo Shorter Appointed UK Ambassador to Lebanon
Hugo Shorter has been appointed as the British Ambassador Designate to Lebanon in succession to Tom Fletcher who took up another appointment outside the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, announced the embassy in a statement on Thursday.
He will be assuming his post initially as Charge D’Affaires with immediate effect.
This will be his first ambassadorial position coming straight from personally advising the Foreign Secretary on a wide range of Foreign Policy priorities as Head of External Affairs for Europe Directorate, continued the statement.
In this role he has accompanied the Foreign Secretary on a monthly basis to the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union, helping negotiate EU foreign policy decisions in areas such as crisis management, sanctions and military operations.
He has also coordinated the UK’s foreign policy work on G7/8, including during the UK G8 presidency in 2013 and the G8 Summit at Lough Erne.
This work comes after an early-career focus on defense, security and trade policy, and successful postings as Minister Counselor for Europe and Global Issues, Paris and Deputy Head of Mission, Brasilia.
Shorter, like many Lebanese, has a special connection to Brazil, having grown up there and attended school in Rio de Janeiro, before taking degrees at Oxford University and the École Nationale d’Administration.
He arrives in Lebanon with his wife and three children.
On his appointment Shorter said: “I am honored to take up this posting leading the British Embassy in Lebanon, and to celebrate 25 years in the FCO in Beirut.”
“I have never had the same job title twice – I’ve negotiated on arms control; led on trade policy; been a private secretary to ministers; worked on the EU’s external action around the world,” he added.
“I’ve learned lessons from every country and every job that I have worked on, and I look forward to the new challenges of being an Ambassador in the Middle East.”
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