| Sumario: | French laïcité is central to debates about the place of religion in society. Although the foundational principles of French secularism aim to guarantee state neutrality and protect freedom of religion, laïcité has attracted increasing international criticism in recent decades for being anti-religious and restricting individual freedom. Through discourse analysis, this study examines laïcité as implemented in French foreign policy, focusing on the recent development of 'laïcité diplomacy' by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and how it seeks to clarify and promote laïcité on the international stage through diplomatic channels, drawing on liberal interpretations. This article argues that laïcité in diplomatic discourse has evolved from a principle not initially considered as un article d'exportation to one now actively promoted abroad. Despite these efforts, the study illustrates that laïcité diplomacy is often undermined by increasingly restrictive domestic policies and ongoing debates on applications of laïcité in France. This study concludes that French laïcité diplomacy faces a paradox. As the country enacts more restrictive measures regarding religious freedom, it is simultaneously intensifying its efforts to present laïcité abroad as a pillar of universalism, positioning itself as a defender of human rights.
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