Youssef Rajji

Youssef "Joe" Rajji is a Lebanese diplomat who has served as Ministry of [Foreign Affairs and Emigrants (Lebanon)|minister of foreign affairs and emigrants] in the cabinet of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam since February 2025. He previously served as Lebanon's ambassador to Jordan from 2022 to 2025.

Early life and education

Rajji was born in Beirut on 20 November 1962. He holds a master's degree in Political and Administrative Sciences from Saint Joseph University of Beirut and a diploma in Media and Political Communication from the University of Paris. He is fluent in Arabic, English, and French.

Diplomatic career

Rajji joined Lebanon’s diplomatic service in 1992. Key assignments include:

1995–1999: Political affairs officer at the Lebanese Embassy in Washington, D.C., focusing on U.S.-Lebanon relations.
1999–2002: Deputy head of mission at the Lebanese Embassy in Brussels, overseeing engagement with the European Union.
2004–2005: Deputy head of Lebanon’s permanent mission to the United Nations in Geneva.
2005–2017: Senior roles at the Lebanese Embassy in Rabat, Morocco, including acting as chargé d'affaires during transitional periods.
2017–2022: Director of Inspection at Lebanon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, overseeing diplomatic protocol and compliance.
2022–2025: Ambassador to Jordan, where he mediated bilateral discussions on trade and refugee repatriation.

Foreign minister

Rajji was appointed foreign minister in February 2025 as part of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s technocratic cabinet, formed amid Lebanon’s ongoing political and economic crises. He was appointed by the Lebanese Forces party. His appointment drew praise from international figures, including Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, who called his leadership "critical for regional stability."
On 2 October, 2025 he announced the launch of the online platform for Lebanese diaspora to register digitally for the upcoming 2026 parliamentary elections. This initiative was done to boost diaspora voter participation. This is part of joint effort between the Foreign Ministry and Interior Ministry to make voter registration clear and accurate, and to encourage full participation of Lebanese citizens abroad in the upcoming elections. By mid-November reports say that over 100,000 Lebanese diaspora have registered to the platform.

Political positions

Rajji has emphasized the need for Lebanon to maintain neutrality in regional conflicts and strengthen ties with Arab and European partners. He has also advocated for reforms to streamline consular services for the Lebanese diaspora.