Brussels, 20 February (LaPresse) – The EU Special Representative for the Gulf region, Luigi Di Maio, has been appointed Honorary Professor at the Department of Defence Studies at King's College London. Di Maio himself announced the news on LinkedIn. ‘I will take on this new role with the aim of contributing to the dialogue on international security, Europe-Gulf relations and geopolitical dynamics,’ wrote the former Italian Foreign Minister on the professional social networking site. Di Maio was appointed the first EU Special Representative for the Gulf region on 15 May 2023, on the proposal of the then EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell, and took up his duties on 1 June, with an initial mandate of 21 months. His appointment was then extended, on the proposal of High Representative Kaja Kallas, for another two years, until 28 February 2027, and may be renewed again.