On 15 December 2008, Dennis Ross, the American diplomat and former U.S. envoy to the Middle East, was hosted in Paris for a breakfast and lunch discussion under the banner of Foreign Policy édition française, for which Fabien Baussart held the licence in France and Ukraine. Known for his central role in Arab–Israeli negotiations, Ross offered participants an insider’s view of U.S. diplomacy at a critical moment of transition in Washington.

The breakfast brought together journalists, experts, politicians, and policymakers, focusing on the prospects for peace in the Middle East and the implications of the incoming Obama administration for U.S. foreign policy. Ross’s long experience in shuttle diplomacy and his pragmatic approach provided a framework for lively exchanges on regional stability.

At the lunch, attended by diplomats, politicians, and policymakers, the conversation turned to broader geopolitical issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme, U.S.–European relations, and the enduring challenges of conflict resolution in the Middle East. The discussions underlined the value of convening senior diplomats at pivotal political moments to illuminate the choices and dilemmas facing international actors.