Luigi Di Maio Appointed Honorary Professor at King’s College London
Brussels, February 20, 2026 – Luigi Di Maio, the EU Special Representative for the Gulf region, has been appointed as an Honorary Professor at the Defence Studies Department of King’s College London. The appointment, announced by Di Maio on LinkedIn, reflects his extensive experience in international affairs and aims to contribute to discussions on international security, Europe-Gulf relations and geopolitical dynamics.
A Symbolic Role with a Substantial Background
The honorary professorship is not a traditional academic position attained through competition or based on scientific publications. Instead, it is a symbolic recognition universities bestow upon individuals with significant institutional experience and the potential to offer valuable insights. Universities globally utilize honorary degrees to acknowledge former heads of state, ministers, diplomats, and other prominent figures who have made substantial contributions to their fields.
Di Maio’s Career Highlights
Prior to his current role as EU Special Representative for the Gulf region – a position he has held since June 1, 2023, initially with a 21-month mandate and subsequently extended until February 28, 2027 – Di Maio served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy from September 2019 to October 2022. He also held the position of President of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in 2022. Earlier in his career, from June 2018 to September 2019, he was Deputy Prime Minister of Italy, alongside serving as Minister of Economic Development and Trade, and Minister of Labour and Social Policies. From March 2013 to March 2018, he was Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies and a Member of the European Union Affairs Committee.
Contributions During Tenure as Foreign Minister
During his time as Italy’s Foreign Minister, Di Maio chaired several key international meetings, including the G20 Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting, the G20 Trade Ministers meeting, the G20 Ministerial Meeting on Afghanistan, and the June 2021 plenary Ministerial Meeting of the International Anti-Daesh Coalition. He also led the first Mediterranean Ministerial Dialogue on the Food Security Crisis in June 2022. He chaired three annual editions (2019, 2020, 2021) of the MED Dialogue Conference, focused on fostering a positive agenda for the Mediterranean region through multilateralism.
Focus at King’s College London
In his new role at King’s College London, Di Maio intends to focus on contributing to the dialogue surrounding international security, the relationship between Europe and the Gulf region, and broader geopolitical dynamics. He expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity on LinkedIn, stating his aim to contribute with the same passion he has demonstrated throughout his career.