A British-Lebanese citizen, Dakhlallah will make history this Friday as NATO's first spokesperson from the region, which could boost the alliance's outreach to the Arab-speaking world.
Adam Lucente
@Adam_Lucente
February 28, 2024
Farah Dakhlallah of Lebanon will serve as spokesperson for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) starting on Friday.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg made the announcement this week, marking the first time a woman of Arab descent will serve in the position. Dakhlallah brings years of experience in international organizations to the post and could help the alliance in its outreach to the Arabic-speaking world.
It is an honour and a privilege to be appointed #NATO Spokesperson, leading Press & Media for the Alliance during this critical time.
NATO protects more than 1 billion people, safeguarding their freedom and democracy, and contributing to a more peaceful world. 🌎 https://t.co/Nc0j1aKZPR— Farah Dakhlallah فرح دخل الله (@FarahDakhlallah) February 26, 2024
Dakhlallah is replacing Oana Lungescu, who has served in the position since 2010, according to NATO.
Who is Dakhlallah? Dakhlallah, 40, is originally from Lebanon but also holds British citizenship. She studied at Saint Joseph University of Beirut before attending the London School of Economics and Cambridge University in the United Kingdom, according to a 2016 interview with the London-based organization Women in Foreign Policy.
She worked for the UK Foreign Office from 2014 to 2016, serving as an Arabic-language spokesperson. In that capacity, Dakhlallah gave interviews to regional media on the conflicts in Syria, Yemen, Libya and Ukraine as well as on the Iran nuclear issue and other topics.
In the years that followed, Dakhlallah served in communications positions for two United Nations organizations before becoming communications manager for the World Health Organization in 2017, a position she held until 2021. Most recently, she served as Middle East media relations director for AstraZeneca from 2022 until December of last year, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Why it matters: Dakhlallah’s tenure comes at a critical time for NATO as it navigates the wars in Ukraine and backlash from the war in Gaza. Her appointment could help NATO in its outreach to the Arab world. Stoltenberg visited Saudi Arabia for the first time in December in an effort to boost cooperation with the kingdom.
Last month, Morocco and Algeria participated in a NATO security patrol in the western Mediterranean.
Know more: Dakhlallah's appointment was praised by many on social media, including journalists from her country of origin, Lebanon.
Super congratulations to a brilliant lady who I’ve had the privilege of knowing since age 10! @FarahDakhlallah 🚀 🙌🏼 https://t.co/YpNIov5uNA— Joumanna Nasr Bercetche 🇱🇧 (@JoumannaTV) February 27, 2024
The British embassy in Lebanon called her appointment "A proud moment for the UK and Lebanon" in a post on X.
Read more: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2024/02/meet-farah-dakhlallah-natos-first-spokesperson-arab-descent#ixzz8am4z07gR
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