Rattachés

Rattachés are officials officially attached to a government ministry, diplomatic mission, or international organization to provide specialized expertise, technical support, and liaison. The term is French in origin, from rattaché, meaning “attached.” In English-language contexts, the role is usually rendered as attaché, while rattaché remains in use in French and in contexts that preserve the original terminology. Typical rattachés include military attachés, cultural attachés, economic or commercial attachés, and press or information attachés. A rattaché acts as a representative, adviser, or contact for the appointing state, helping with communication, reporting on developments, and coordinating policy or protocol activities.

Historically, rattachés developed as formal staff of diplomatic missions from the 18th and 19th centuries, as states demanded specialized advice within embassies. Military attachés became standard in many missions, providing defense coordination, observation, and liaison with host armed forces. Other categories—such as cultural or educational attachés—promote national culture and exchanges, while economic attachés support trade missions and investment promotion.

Appointment and status vary by country but generally involve serving at a rank comparable to other diplomatic staff and operating under the host country’s diplomatic conventions. Their work is governed by international diplomatic law and the policies of the appointing state, and they function as official representatives within the limits of their mandate. Rattachés are distinct from clandestine intelligence personnel; while informal information gathering can occur, their duties are defined and conducted within official diplomatic practice.