Friis Arne Petersen
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Friis Arne Petersen | |
|---|---|
| Danish Ambassador to Germany | |
| Assumed office 15 August 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Per Poulsen-Hansen |
| Danish Ambassador to China | |
| In office 2010 – 31 July 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Jeppe Tranholm-Mikkelsen |
| Succeeded by | Carsten Damsgaard |
| Danish Ambassador to the United States | |
| In office 2005–2010 | |
| Preceded by | Ulrik Federspiel |
| Succeeded by | Peter Taksøe-Jensen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 November 1952 Skagen, Denmark |
| Alma mater | University of Copenhagen |
Friis Arne Petersen (born 25 November 1952) is a Danish diplomat who since 2015 has been Denmark's ambassador to Germany. From the embassy in Berlin, Petersen is also accredited as Denmark's ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
Career
Petersen was educated as Cand.polit. from the University of Copenhagen in 1978.[1] After completing his education, he was appointed Secretary of the National Audit Office for one year. In 1979 he was employed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and in the same year was appointed as a clerk. From 1981 to 1984, Petersen was posted as the First Secretary to the Danish embassy in Cairo, Egypt.[1]
In February 1986, he became Private Secretary to the Foreign Minister's office, Uffe Ellemann-Jensen. In 1990, he was appointed Head of the Foreign Minister's Private Office. Petersen continued serving under Foreign Minister Niels Helveg Petersen[1] from 1993 to 1994. In 1994, he became Head of Department with responsibility for Russia and Eastern Europe. In 1995, he was appointed Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs. Petersen then was appointed Permanent Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs in 1997.[1] During the period of 1997 to 2005, Ambassador Petersen served as deputy to the Danish Foreign Minister in the EU Foreign Ministers Council. Additionally, Petersen served as the Danish government's representative in the Danish-Russian Governmental Council during the same period.
Petersen was appointed to Washington, D.C. as Denmark's ambassador to the United States in 2005.[1] An office he held until 2010, when he was appointed as ambassador to China for 5 years. Following this, he was appointed as Denmark's ambassador to Germany from August 2015 to 2020. While serving in Germany, he was also accredited ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein.[1]

Friis Arne Petersen served as adjunct professor at Copenhagen Business School in the Department of International Economics, Government and Business from 2018 to 2022.
Furthermore, Petersen has received a number of decorations.
Honours
Belgium: Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown
Brazil: Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross
Bulgaria: Grand Cross of the Stara Planina 1st class
Denmark: Commander's Cross 1st Class of the Order of the Dannebrog
Estonia: Cross of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana 2nd Class
Egypt: Grand Commander's Cross of the Order of the Republic
Finland: Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion
Germany: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Greenland: Greenlands Home Rule Order of Merit Nersornaat in gold
Japan: Order of the Rising Sun Commander of 1st Class
Jordan: Grand Cross of the Order of Independence 1st Class
Lithuania: Grand Commander's Cross of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas
Luxembourg: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Morocco: Knight of the Order of Ouissam Alaouite
Norway: Commander of the Order of St. Olav
Romania: Grand Cross of the National Order of Faithful Service
Thailand: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the White Elephant
United Kingdom: Honorary Knight Grand Cross of Order of St Michael and St George
References
This article "Friis Arne Petersen" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Friis Arne Petersen. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
- Proposed deletion as of 22 March 2026
- 1952 births
- People from Skagen
- Ambassadors of Denmark to the United States
- Ambassadors of Denmark to Germany
- Ambassadors of Denmark to Switzerland
- Ambassadors of Denmark to Liechtenstein
- University of Copenhagen alumni
- Grand Crosses of the Order of the Crown (Belgium)
- Commanders First Class of the Order of the Dannebrog
- Recipients of Nersornaat
- Recipients of the Order of the Lion of Finland
- Recipients of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas
- Recipients of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
- Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
