From NATO to Washington, Marco Peronaci is the new Italian ambassador to the US: here's who he is

Marco Peronaci, current ambassador to NATO, will be the new Italian ambassador to the United States. He succeeds Mariangela Zappia. He will have to manage relations with Donald Trump's US, starting with the tariffs and rearmament dossiers. The decision came during the Council of Ministers that took place on Thursday 12 June. The cabinet also appointed Mario Vattani, the current Commissioner General for Italy at Expo 2025 Osaka, as Italian ambassador to Japan.

The new Italian Ambassador to Washington was born in Pavia in 1965. He graduated cum laude in Political Science from Rome's "La Sapienza" University in 1987, earned a master's degree in International Relations from SIOI in Rome, and passed the competition for a diplomatic career in 1988. Peronaci did his military service in the Air Force in 1989, in Taranto and Vigna di Valle. In 2018, he was awarded the honour of Commendatore dell'Ordine al Merito della Repubblica italiana; in 1998, he received the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Golden Rays with Grand Collar of Japan.

In December 2022, he was appointed Permanent Representative to the Atlantic Council with the rank and title of ambassador. He previously held posts in Rome, Brussels, Paris, Tokyo and Kampala (Uganda, with secondary accreditation also in Rwanda and Burundi). In particular, he was: Ambassador as Italian Representative in the EU Political and Security Committee (2020-2022); Special Envoy for Brexit of the Farnesina (2018-2020); Spokesperson and Head of the Press and Institutional Communication Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (2017-2018); diplomatic adviser to the Minister of the Interior (2015-2017); ambassador as Deputy Permanent Representative to the European Union in Brussels and President of Coreper Part One during Italy's six-month presidency in 2014 (2012-2015); diplomatic adviser to the Minister of Justice (2009-2012).

At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome, he worked in three directorates-general (Political Affairs, Personnel and Administration and Emigration and Social Affairs). Abroad, he held positions as first counsellor at the Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels (2006-2009) and, previously, as counsellor and first secretary at the Italian embassies in Paris (2002-2006), Tokyo (1993-1998) and Kampala (Uganda, 1991-1993) respectively. He speaks English, French, Spanish and Japanese. He is the author of essays and publications on European and Asian policy issues.