A conversation with French cabinet member Éléonore Caroit in charge of Francophonie, International Partnerships, and French Citizens Abroad. Recorded on March 30th, 2026 and edited for clarity.
She paused as she walked through the glass doors of 22 East 60th Street in Manhattan and stepped inside the L’Alliance New York building.
Twenty years earlier, Éléonore Caroit had first crossed that threshold as an intern. She now returned as a member of the French government, Minister Delegate to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, responsible for Francophonie, International Partnerships, and French Citizens Abroad.
“It was 20 years ago,” she recalled. In 2005 to be exact. “I was a student at Sciences Po (Paris Institute of Political Studies), and I knew I wanted to go to New York for my third year abroad.” She contacted the French Institute-Alliance Française, as it was then known, and soon landed an internship there.
“My first job ever! Imagine your first job in New York, taking the train, walking through the streets, working with artistsand cultural programming. It was something that built my character and my interest in Francophonie, for promoting the French language and the position that I hold today.”
Two decades ago, from a desk on the fourth floor, she worked on programming. She helped put together a Trophée des Arts gala with a Cirque du Soleil performance at the Rainbow Room, on top of Rockefeller Center.
Did she know then that she would eventually run for office, join the French National Assembly, and later be appointed to the government by President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu?
“At that time, I wanted to be an actress,” she said.
Yet, Éléonore Caroit also desired to play a role for France. “I knew I wanted to do something related to culture, related to building bridges and increasing dialogue, but I had no idea I was going to enter into politics.”
We are about 400 million Francophone speakers worldwide.
Éléonore Caroit, French Minister in charge of Francophonie, International Partnerships and French Citizens Abroad
Last November, she was back at L’Alliance New York annual fundraiser, except this time as a speaker and at the Plaza Hotel. The French Minister took the stage just after Bradley Cooper, whose French surprised many, and introduced Belgian singer Angèle, who received the 2025 Trophée des Arts.
“I was amazed by how much it had grown and had become, perhaps one of the most sought-after galas in the city,” she reminisced. “Although the one at the Rainbow Room was great, but we were doing the decoration. It was very, I would say, very organic.”
JC Agid: Did you foresee at the time what L’Alliance New York would become? Its role, its ambition in promoting francophone culture in New York and beyond?
Eléonore Caroit: “I wouldn’t have imagined that it would become as great as it is, but I could see that there was a vision. It was Marie-Monique Steckel at the time, and now with Tatyana Franck. You see that at the head of L’Alliance, you have very strong women determined to promote the French language and culture, and to always push further.
I was very pleased to discover all the new projects that I intend to support. Bastille Day was just on 60th Street, if I remember correctly. And now, it has become a huge neighborhood event. It is the same for everything really. Florence Gould Hall was already there with an amazing programming. We also had the room on the last floor with performing arts, so you could tell that it was going to become one of the places to be in New York.
“French is the second most learned language in the world.
Éléonore Caroit
You keep traveling around the world. There is not a week when you are not on a different continent. What is your analysis of the state of Francophonie in the world, whether it is cultural, linguistic, educational, business, or political?
“We’ve discovered that we are about 400 million Francophone speakers worldwide. The most interesting figure is that French is the second most learned language in the world, so it’s actually a very attractive language. And the reason for this is perhaps because the Francophone family shares values.
France defends multilateralism and a very multilateral approach to geopolitics. We’re also very attached to dialogue, to democracy. And I think people see it. It’s been the case throughout the years. For instance, my mom, who is Dominican, learned how to speak French because she’s a lawyer, and law in Latin America is very linked to the French language.
I think today for other reasons and in a different context, French is a language that you want to learn not only because it is interesting, not only because of business opportunities, not only because of culture, but also because of values and principles.
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