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Nicholas Hopton

Head of UK Embassy to Libya

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30th August 2021 Tripoli, Libya

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by Nicholas Hopton

Head of UK Embassy to Libya

Farewell Libya

I finish my mission as UK Ambassador to Libya at the end of this month. So, this is my last blog in the role. My excellent successor, Caroline Hurndall, will take up post in September, leading our talented teams in Tripoli, Benghazi and Tunis. The Embassy will continue to represent the UK and promote its […]

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30th June 2021 Tripoli, Libya

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by Nicholas Hopton

Head of UK Embassy to Libya

A Busy June

June has been an action-packed month for the UK-Libya relationship. We’ve seen a UK ministerial delegation in Libya for the first time in three years, the Libyan Prime Minister in the UK, and the international community coming together for the second Berlin Conference. We have also seen the first visit to Misrata by a UK […]

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23rd March 2021 Tripoli, Libya

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by Nicholas Hopton

Head of UK Embassy to Libya

A changing world – the UK’s Integrated Review and Libya

In the decade since Libya’s 17 February Revolution, we have seen major global changes: growing challenges such as climate change, Covid-19, organised crime and terrorism; rapid technological change; rising powers especially in the Indo-Pacific. As Ambassador, I often hear from Libyans who are curious not just about the UK’s approach to Libya, but also about […]

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9th October 2019 Tripoli, Libya

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by Nicholas Hopton

Head of UK Embassy to Libya

A letter to all Libyans

By way of introduction, I am Nicholas Hopton the new Chargé d’Affairs at the British Embassy Tripoli. I am delighted to take up this job at such a crucial time. There is a lot of important work to do to improve the situation in your country. The top three things I’m focussing on are: Ending […]

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4th November 2015 Tripoli, Libya

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by Nicholas Hopton

Head of UK Embassy to Libya

 وأنا أغادر قطر …

مع انتهاء فترة عملي كسفير للمملكة المتحدة لدى دولة قطر، يُسعدني اليوم أن أعرب عن مدى اعتزازي بالصداقة التاريخية القائمة بين دولتينا. صداقة أقوى حاليا من أي وقت مضى، وستكون بعد أكثر متانة في السنوات المقبلة. العلاقة بين قطر والمملكة المتحدة هو تجسيد للشراكة بمعناها الحقيقي، فهي تغطي مجالات التعاون كافة كالدفاع والسياسة الخارجية والثقافة […]

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27th October 2015 Tripoli, Libya

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by Nicholas Hopton

Head of UK Embassy to Libya

On leaving Qatar…

As I complete my time as UK Ambassador in Qatar, I am delighted to see that the historic friendship between Qatar and the UK is now stronger than ever – and set to strengthen even more in the coming years. This is a partnership in it’s true sense. It covers defence, foreign policy, culture, education, […]

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2nd September 2014 Tripoli, Libya

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by Nicholas Hopton

Head of UK Embassy to Libya

Croeso – مرحبا بكم في ويلز

Croeso I Gymru – مرحبا بكم في ويلز. في وقت لاحق من هذا الأسبوع، ستنعقد قمة حلف شمال الأطلسي (ناتو) في ويلز. ويعد ذلك أكبر تجمع على الإطلاق للقادة الدوليين في بريطانيا. سيكون موضوع القمة الرئيسي هو “بناء الاستقرار في عالم متغير”. ومن خلال عقد هذه القمة في ويلز، سنتمكن من تسليط الضوء على هذه […]

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2nd September 2014 Tripoli, Libya

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by Nicholas Hopton

Head of UK Embassy to Libya

Croeso – Welcome to Wales

Croeso i Gymru – Welcome to Wales. Later this week, Wales will host the NATO Summit, the largest gathering of international leaders ever to take place in Britain. The theme of the Summit is ‘Building Stability in an Unpredictable World’. By bringing the Summit to Wales, we will be able to shine the global spotlight […]

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9th February 2014 Tripoli, Libya

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by Nicholas Hopton

Head of UK Embassy to Libya

Brits Don’t Do Culture – Or Do They?

When I first arrived in Doha last July, I was verging on the sceptical when I heard about the Qatar/UK 2013 Year of Culture. It didn’t sound particularly British, despite our popular cultural icons and their global reach. I’m as proud of James Bond, JK Rowling and One Direction as anyone, but when it comes […]

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3rd February 2014 Tripoli, Libya

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by Nicholas Hopton

Head of UK Embassy to Libya

National dialogue points to brighter future for Yemen

Whilst I was still an Ambassador in Yemen, I wrote a blog offering some tips to the newly appointed members of Yemen’s National Dialogue Conference. I suggested that if they were to rise to the huge historical responsibility placed on their shoulders, and heal the country’s divisions allowing it to become more secure and prosperous, […]

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About Nicholas Hopton

Nicholas Hopton is former UK Ambassador to Iran, Qatar and Yemen. Nicholas is a career diplomat who joined the FCO in 1989 having studied at St Peter’s School, York, and…

Nicholas Hopton is former UK Ambassador to Iran, Qatar and Yemen.

Nicholas is a career diplomat who joined the FCO in 1989 having
studied at St Peter’s School, York, and Cambridge University (Magdalene
College).  He has also studied at La Sapienza University in Rome and ENA in Paris.
With the FCO he has also served overseas in Paris, Rome, Morocco and Mauritania.
He is married with five children.