Tom Fletcher

Former British Ambassador to Lebanon

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13th January 2015 Beirut, Lebanon

by Tom Fletcher

Former British Ambassador to Lebanon

Keeping the ‘Islamic State’ out of Lebanon, and Lebanon out of the ‘Islamic State’

All of us share the sadness of the French people at last week’s terrorist attack in Paris, and of the Lebanese people at the weekend attack in Tripoli. In their condemnation of the deaths in Paris, the four Muftis of Lebanon sent a powerful message against extremism. It was a reminder that many in this […]

28th November 2014 Beirut, Lebanon

by Tom Fletcher

Former British Ambassador to Lebanon

ALEXANDER THE GREAT, SPEED DATING AND JAWBONE

I recently got a Jawbone ‘Up’, a device that monitors your daily activity, sleep patterns and exercise, and helps you better control your health. As a father of two boys, I don’t need anyone to tell me I don’t get enough sleep. But, like many, I’m outsourcing the collection of my data to a plastic […]

7th November 2014 Beirut, Lebanon

by Tom Fletcher

Former British Ambassador to Lebanon

Is The Pen Mightier Than The Sword?

The Lebanese spend more on education than anything but food, more per capita than any other country. It’s a downpayment of hope in Lebanon’s future. In schools as on the borders and checkpoints, the UK stands beside Lebanon with actions not words. The UK is now Lebanon’s main education partner, through four gamechanging programmes. For […]

16th October 2014 Beirut, Lebanon

by Tom Fletcher

Former British Ambassador to Lebanon

Equality, Dignity, Respect: Trading Places

This year’s Blog Action Day (#BAD2014 #Blogaction14), on 16 October, is on inequality. To encourage debate about the rights of migrant workers, I spent the day with Kalkidan Nigusie, from Ethiopia. In the morning, we visited the Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk (who has written his response here), gave a press conference, and chaired a meeting […]

25th September 2014 Beirut, Lebanon

by Tom Fletcher

Former British Ambassador to Lebanon

A United Nation at the UN

For a week every year, the world’s foreign policy elites relocate to New York for the annual jamboree of statecraft, the UN General Assembly. The pace is frantic – diplomatic speed-dating. But it matters. The UN may not be perfect, but no-one has yet come up with a better idea for global coexistence. It matters […]

3rd September 2014 Beirut, Lebanon

by Tom Fletcher

Former British Ambassador to Lebanon

Wisdom Amid Adversity?: NATO Comes to Wales

With a formidable to-do list for the world’s leaders, the 2014 NATO Summit takes place in Wales on 4/5 September. This will be the largest ever gathering of international leaders in Britain. In preparation, some diplomats have even been learning Welsh (Matthew Barzun clip). Having been to a few, I’ve sometimes been sceptical about the […]

24th May 2014 Beirut, Lebanon

by Tom Fletcher

Former British Ambassador to Lebanon

An Apology, and a Lebanese Manifesto

Today I visited the Presidential Palace to thank President Sleiman for his leadership. Throughout his mandate he has led Lebanon with great dignity and wisdom, and worked tirelessly for unity and consensus. He has just left the building. In theory, a new President should be preparing to arrive, making the last adjustments to his or […]

9th May 2014 Beirut, Lebanon

by Tom Fletcher

Former British Ambassador to Lebanon

Engagement is Not Just About Cute Cats and Hashtags

I joined three events in the last week on power in the digital age. The first was with online activists and entrepreneurs, with @AUB_OC at the American University #SMCL2. I had first met them shortly after arriving in Beirut in 2011, and talked about riding the digital tiger, and tips for twiplomats. Two years on, […]

29th April 2014 Beirut, Lebanon

by Tom Fletcher

Former British Ambassador to Lebanon

One Hundred Years On: Here’s to the Crazy Ones

This month, I attended the reopening of the Anglo-American Cemetery in Beirut, a century after its inauguration. This small corner of a foreign field in Furn el-Shubbak is the final resting place of a hundred or so explorers and pioneers who came to Lebanon in the 19th and early 20th centuries – missionaries, educationalists, relief […]

21st March 2014 Beirut, Lebanon

by Tom Fletcher

Former British Ambassador to Lebanon

SOVEREIGNTY, BORDERS AND KEEPING LEBANON OUT OF THE WAR

This week I visited Lebanon’s Northern border with the Lebanese Army. I wanted to see the way in which they are trying to enforce sovereignty at this challenging time, supported by UK projects. A series of UK funded border towers, some built (symbolically) with material previously used in Northern Ireland, are the most significant evidence in […]

About Tom Fletcher

Tom Fletcher was appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Lebanese Republic in August 2011. Tom was born in Kent, and studied at Harvey Grammar School (Folkestone) and Oxford University (Hertford…

Tom Fletcher was appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Lebanese Republic in August 2011.

Tom was born in Kent, and studied at Harvey Grammar School (Folkestone) and Oxford University (Hertford College), graduating with a First class degree in Modern History. He has an MA in Modern History, and is a Senior Associate Member of St Anthony’s College for International Studies, Oxford.

He is married to Louise Fletcher and they have two sons, Charles (born 2006) and Theodor (born 2011). Tom enjoys political history, cricket (Strollers CC), and mountains, and is the co-founder of 2020 (a progressive think tank).

Tom was awarded the Companion of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2011 New Year’s Honours, for services to the Prime Minister.

Tom Fletcher

Keeping the ‘Islamic State’ out of Lebanon, and Lebanon out of the ‘Islamic State’

ALEXANDER THE GREAT, SPEED DATING AND JAWBONE

Is The Pen Mightier Than The Sword?

Equality, Dignity, Respect: Trading Places

A United Nation at the UN

Wisdom Amid Adversity?: NATO Comes to Wales

An Apology, and a Lebanese Manifesto

One Hundred Years On: Here’s to the Crazy Ones

SOVEREIGNTY, BORDERS AND KEEPING LEBANON OUT OF THE WAR

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