{{Short description|Lebanese diplomat (born 1962)}} {{Multiple issues| {{BLP sources|date=February 2025}} {{Resume-like|date=August 2025}} }} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Youssef Rajji | image = Visit of Youssef Raggi, Lebanon Minister for Foreign Affairs, to the European Commission P067564-551707 (cropped).jpg | caption = Rajji in 2025 | office = [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants (Lebanon)|Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants]] | term_start = 8 February 2025 | term_end = | predecessor = [[Abdallah Bou Habib]] | prime_minister = [[Nawaf Salam]] | office1 = Ambassador of Lebanon to Jordan | term_start1 = 2022 | term_end1 = 8 February 2025 | predecessor1 = [[Tracy Chamoun]] | successor1 = Georges Fadel (acting) | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|11|20|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Beirut]], Lebanon | alma_mater = [[Saint Joseph University of Beirut]] <small>(Masters)</small><br>[[University of Paris]] <small>(Diploma)</small> | party = [[Lebanese Forces]] | profession = Diplomat | native_name_lang = ar | native_name = {{nobold|يوسف رجّي}} }}
'''Youssef "Joe" Rajji''' ({{langx|ar| يوسف رجّي}}; born 20 November 1962) 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.<ref name="NewArab">{{Cite news |title=New Lebanon cabinet announced as PM vows to implement reforms |url=https://www.newarab.com/news/new-lebanon-cabinet-announced-pm-vows-implement-reforms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250208223635/https://www.newarab.com/news/new-lebanon-cabinet-announced-pm-vows-implement-reforms |archive-date=8 February 2025 |access-date=10 February 2025 |work=[[The New Arab]] |language=en}}</ref> He previously served as Lebanon's ambassador to [[Jordan]] from 2022 to 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mostafa |first=Amr |date=9 February 2025 |title=Lebanon's PM packs cabinet with heavy hitters from business and finance world |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2025/02/09/who-are-lebanon-new-ministers/ |access-date=10 February 2025 |website=[[The National (Abu Dhabi)|The National]] |language=en}}</ref>
== 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]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Who Are the Ministers in Nawaf Salam's Government? |url=https://thisisbeirut.com.lb/articles/1307905/who-are-the-ministers-in-nawaf-salam-s-government |access-date=10 February 2025 |website=This is Beirut |language=en}}</ref> 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 Office at Geneva|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.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 March 2023 |title=Lebanon, Jordan agree to boost economic ties amid regional challenges |work=[[Jordan Times]] |url=https://jordantimes.com/news/local/lebanon-jordan-agree-boost-economic-ties-amid-regional-challenges |access-date=10 February 2025}}</ref>
=== 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.<ref name="NewArab" /> His appointment drew praise from international figures, including [[Kaja Kallas]], the [[High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy|EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs]], who called his leadership "critical for regional stability."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statement by the High Representative Kaja Kallas on the formation of a new government in Lebanon |url=https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/statement-high-representative-kaja-kallas-formation-new-government-lebanon_en |access-date=10 February 2025 |website=[[European External Action Service]] |language=en}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lebanon's Foreign Ministry launches diaspora voter registration platform |url=https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/lebanon-news/881792/lbci-lebanon-articles/en |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=LBCIV7 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Interior Minister Affirms 2026 Parliamentary Elections Will Be Held on Time |url=https://www.mtv.com.lb/en/news/Local/1616024/interior-minister-affirms-2026-parliamentary-elections-will-be-held-on-time |access-date=2025-10-02 |website=MTV Lebanon |language=en}}</ref> By mid-November reports say that over 100,000 Lebanese diaspora have registered to the platform.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-18 |title=Number of expats registered to vote surpasses 100,000 |url=https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1485408/number-of-expats-registered-to-vote-surpasses-100000.html |access-date=2025-11-19 |website=L'Orient Today |language=en}}</ref>
On 8 March 2026, Following the 2026 Iran war and the attacks carried out by Hezbollah against Cyprus, targeting British military bases, Rajji condemned the attacks in a message he sent to Cypriote counterpart [[Constantinos Kombos]]. Rajji said that "Lebanon will not serve as a platform for implementing foreign agendas and urged Cyprus not to confuse the Lebanese state with groups operating outside its authority and legal framework".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lebanon FM Rajji condemns attacks on British bases in Cyprus, says they do not represent Lebanon |url=https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/lebanon-news/912031/lbci-lebanon-articles/en |access-date=2026-03-08 |website=LBCIV7 |language=en}}</ref>
Later in a extraordinary virtual meeting of the [[Council of the Arab League]] he said that "Hezbollah had disregarded Lebanon's national interests, stressing that the Lebanese government and people are not responsible for the group's actions".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=FM Rajji at Arab League meeting: Hezbollah ignored Lebanese interests, government and people not responsible |url=https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/lebanon-news/912059/lbci-lebanon-articles/en |access-date=2026-03-08 |website=LBCIV7 |language=en}}</ref> He then continued to say that he: "expressed deep regret that Hezbollah had once again ignored Lebanon's supreme national interests in favor of external agendas".<ref name=":1" />
On March 19, 2026 while taking part in the emergency meeting held in [[Riyadh]], to discuss Iran's [[2026 Iran war|aggression]] against its Muslim neighboring states he emphasized that "the Lebanese government is determined and resolved to wrest Lebanon from the clutches of the Iranian grip, after it instructed Hezbollah to drag Lebanon into a war it did not choose,".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2026 |title=Raji from Riyadh: The Lebanese government is determined and resolute in wresting Lebanon from the clutches of Iranian influence. |url=https://www.annahar.com/lebanon/289412/%D8%B1%D8%AC%D9%8A-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%88%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%85%D8%A9-%D9%88%D9%85%D8%B5%D9%85%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AB%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%A8%D8%B6%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9}}</ref>
On March 24, 2026 Rajji declared the Iranian ambassador [[Mohammad Reza Raouf Sheibani]] as [[Persona non grata|PNG (persona non grata)]], giving him until Sunday to leave the country. He was quoted saying "in light of what the Lebanese state described as Tehran's violation of diplomatic norms and established practices between the two countries".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lebanon Orders Iran's Ambassador to Leave Country, Drawing Hezbollah Condemnation |url=https://english.aawsat.com/node/5254657 |access-date=2026-03-25 |website=english.aawsat.com |language=en}}</ref>
== 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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=12 February 2025 |title=Foreign Minister Rajji pledges diaspora outreach in first press conference |work=[[L'Orient-Le Jour]] |url=https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1356782/foreign-minister-rajji-pledges-diaspora-outreach-in-first-press-conference.html |access-date=13 February 2025 |language=fr}}</ref>
== See also == * [[Foreign relations of Lebanon]] * [[Cabinet of Nawaf Salam]]
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.mfa.gov.lb/ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants (Lebanon)]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rajji, Youssef}} [[Category:1962 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Foreign ministers of Lebanon]] [[Category:Saint Joseph University of Beirut alumni]] [[Category:Ambassadors of Lebanon to Jordan]] [[Category:Politicians from Beirut]] [[Category:21st-century Lebanese politicians]] [[Category:21st-century Lebanese diplomats]] [[Category:Lebanese Forces politicians]] [[Category:Lebanese Maronites]]