Ambassador-designate of France to Italy since July 2023, Martin Briens was previously director of the civil and military cabinet of the Minister of the Armed Forces, from 2017 to 2022.
A career diplomat who joined the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs in 1996 following his studies at the National School of Administration (Victor Schoelcher promotion), he was stationed in Beijing (1999-2003), in Washington (2003-2006) as well as at the permanent representation of France to the United Nations in New York (2010-2013), as deputy permanent representative.
In Paris, he notably served as deputy director of the Center for Analysis and Forecasting (2006-2007), deputy director of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation (2007-2010), director- deputy in the office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development (2013-2016) and director of strategy at the Ministry of Defense (2016-2017).