Meet the ambassador
Ambassador Christina Markus Lassen is the Ambassador of Denmark to The United States at the Embassy of Denmark in Washington D.C.
Most recently, she held a position as Political Director and Under Secretary for Political Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. Ambassador Lassen has also been EU Ambassador to Lebanon (2015-19) and Ambassador of Denmark to Syria and Jordan (2009-2012).
Ambassador Lassen has been with the Danish Foreign Service for many years and held various positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She held a position as; Director for Stabilization and Security Policy (2014-2015), Director for Public Diplomacy and Communication (2013-2014) and Head of Executive Secretariat (2005-2009).
Ambassador Lassen also held a position as Special Advisor at the Prime Minister’s Office in Denmark (2004-2005). Prior to that she served as; First Secretary in the Political Department at the Embassy of Denmark in Washington D.C. (2000-2004) and Head of Section in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (1997-2000).
Ambassador Lassen served as MFA Representative in DIIS (Danish Institute for International Studies) in Copenhagen and Member of Advisory Board at the Danish Foreign Policy Society. She did a fellowship at Harvard University’s Weatherhead Centre for International Affairs (2012-13) and was a Diplomat in Residence at the American University in Beirut.
Ambassador Lassen holds a Master of Science degree in International Relations and Business from Copenhagen Business School.
curriculum vitae
Professional experience
2019-2022
Political Director, Under Secretary for Foreign Policy Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark
2015-2019
Ambassador, Head of European Union Delegation, Beirut, Lebanon
2014-2015
Director for Stabilization and Security Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark
2013-2014
Director for Public Diplomacy and Communication Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark
2009-2012
Ambassador of Denmark to Syria and Jordan, Danish Embassy Damascus, Syria
2005-2009
Head of Executive Secretariat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark
2004-2005
Special advisor, Prime Minister's Office, Denmark
2000-2004
First Secretary, Political Department, Danish Embassy Washington D.C., USA
1997-2000
Head of Section, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark
Education
1994-1997
MSc, International Relations and Business, Copenhagen Business School
Decorations
Order of the Knight of Dannebrog
Personal Information
Born on 17 December 1970
deputy chief of mission
Ambassador Stig P. Piras is the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Denmark in the United States.
Ambassador Piras has had an extensive career in both the Foreign Service and at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Denmark. Before arriving in Washington D.C., he held a position at the Embassy of Denmark in the Republic of Iraq from 2020-2022. Ambassador Piras has also been, Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan (2017-2020), and Deputy Head of Mission, Counsellor, at the Embassy of Denmark in Ankara, Republic of Turkey (2013-2017).
He has also held positions for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Copenhagen, most recently as Deputy Director for Asia, Latin America and Oceania and Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan (DSRAP) (2017-2020). Ambassador Piras was also Deputy Director at the Department of Security in Copenhagen from 2010-2013, and Head of Team for Iraq, Iran, the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa in the Department for the Middle East and Northern Africa from 2008-2010.
Ambassador Piras has even worked at the Embassy of Denmark in Washington D.C. before, when he held the position of First Secretary for three years (2005-2008).
Ambassador Piras holds a Master of Political Science from University of Copenhagen. He and his wife have two children.
contact
Ms. Christina Markus Lassen
Ambassador
Chief of Mission
Mr. Stig Paolo Piras
Deputy Chief of Mission
Tel: (202) 797-5343
Ms. Lone Kanaskie
Personal Assistant to the Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission
Tel: (202) 797-5320