Mr. Claude Bonello was born on 30 April 1980.  He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree in International Relations at the University of Malta in 2002 and pursued a Master of Arts in Diplomatic Studies at the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies in 2003. 

Having joined the diplomatic corps within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malta in July 2004. Mr. Bonello has to-date served on three diplomatic postings – New York (as First Secretary from February 2008 to July 2011), Brussels (as Counsellor and Antici from November 2012 and July 2015) as well as Paris (as Senior Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission from April 2023 to June 2025). 

Mr. Bonello was also appointed Director (External Relations and Mediterranean Affairs) at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on 3 August 2015, a position he held for two terms, until 28 February 2023. He was responsible for Malta’s relations with non-European countries (Africa, Asia, Americas, Maghreb, Mashreq, Gulf, Russia and the CIS, Eastern Europe, Australia and Oceania) as well as the preparation and coordination of Malta position on various regional issues.

As of 5 June 2025, Mr. Bonello was appointed as Ambassador-designate of Malta to Israel, serving as Head of Mission in the Embassy of Malta in Tel Aviv.

He is fluent in Maltese, English, Italian and French.