Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand)
Encyclopedia
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand ' onMouseout='HidePop("20609")' href="/topics/Abbreviation">Abrv:
MFA) is the principal government department in charge of foreign relations
in Thailand
. The ministry is headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs; who is also a member of the Cabinet of Thailand, he is appointed by the Prime Minister
. The Ministry is primarily in charge of formulating and executing foreign policies for the Kingdom of Thailand. The Ministry is also in charge of managing and maintaining Thai diplomatic
missions around the globe. The current Minister of Foreign Affairs is Kasit Piromya
.
: Kosa Pan
, was the younger brother of King Narai’s “Phra Klang” Kosathipodi. Soon after a sub-department was created primarily to deal with foreigners called: "Krom Tha" ( (Port Department).
During the Bangkok Period most of these features were retained. Until the reign of King Mongkut, who in 1840 founded the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Siam; which was administered directly by the King. The responsibilities and roles of the old “Kroms” were shifted to this ministry. Chao Phya Bhanuwong became the first Foreign Minister of Siam in 1871, appointed by King Chulalongkorn.
In 1881 Prince Devavongse Varoprakarn
was appointed to replace him. Known today as the father of Thai diplomacy he reorganized and modernized the Ministry to meet 19th century standards. The Ministry was then permanently established at Saranrom Palace, east of the Grand Palace. The Ministry was divided into 7 divisions:
After the Revolution of 1932
, the Ministry came under civilian control and the Minister was made a member of the constitutional government of Siam. The first Minister under this new system was Phraya Sri Visarn Vacha.
See more at: Foreign relations of Thailand
, Ratchathewi
, Bangkok
in 1992. This building is on the same premise where the Office of the South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) used to stand.
Abbreviation
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase. Usually, but not always, it consists of a letter or group of letters taken from the word or phrase...
MFA) is the principal government department in charge of foreign relations
Foreign policy
A country's foreign policy, also called the foreign relations policy, consists of self-interest strategies chosen by the state to safeguard its national interests and to achieve its goals within international relations milieu. The approaches are strategically employed to interact with other countries...
in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. The ministry is headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs; who is also a member of the Cabinet of Thailand, he is appointed by the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Thailand
The Prime Minister of Thailand is the head of government of Thailand. The Prime Minister is also the chairman of the Cabinet of Thailand. The post has existed since the Revolution of 1932, when the country became a constitutional monarchy....
. The Ministry is primarily in charge of formulating and executing foreign policies for the Kingdom of Thailand. The Ministry is also in charge of managing and maintaining Thai diplomatic
Diplomatic missions of Thailand
This is a list of diplomatic missions of Thailand, excluding honorary consulates.-Europe:** Vienna ** Brussels ** Prague ** Copenhagen ** Helsinki ** Paris ** Berlin...
missions around the globe. The current Minister of Foreign Affairs is Kasit Piromya
Kasit Piromya
Kasit Piromya is a Thai diplomat, "Yellow Shirts" activist, and Democrat Party politician. He was Foreign Minister of Thailand under Abhisit Vejjajiva from 2008 to 2011....
.
History
Prior to the creation of the Ministry, much of the country’s foreign relations were handled exclusively by the absolute monarchs of the day. During the Kingdom of Ayutthaya foreign relations were handled by the “Krom Phra Klang” ( (or the Treasury Department). The Head of the department was known as "Phra Khlang" ( and occasionally referred to as "Berguelang" or "Barcelon" by foreign authors. The famous 18th century Siamese Ambassador to FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
: Kosa Pan
Kosa Pan
Pan , known by his rank Chao Phraya Kosathibodi or former rank Ok Phra Wisut Sunthon or by the nickname Kosa Pan , was a Siamese diplomat and minister who led the Second Siamese Embassy to France sent by king Narai in 1686...
, was the younger brother of King Narai’s “Phra Klang” Kosathipodi. Soon after a sub-department was created primarily to deal with foreigners called: "Krom Tha" ( (Port Department).
During the Bangkok Period most of these features were retained. Until the reign of King Mongkut, who in 1840 founded the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Siam; which was administered directly by the King. The responsibilities and roles of the old “Kroms” were shifted to this ministry. Chao Phya Bhanuwong became the first Foreign Minister of Siam in 1871, appointed by King Chulalongkorn.
In 1881 Prince Devavongse Varoprakarn
Devavongse
Prince of Devavongse Varoprakarn was the second foreign minister of Thailand 1881-1923.Born as son of King Mongkut and Princess Consort Piam with the given name Prince Devan Uthayavongse , he had the same parents as the 3 queens of King Chulalongkorn, Queen Sunandha Kumariratana, Queen Savang...
was appointed to replace him. Known today as the father of Thai diplomacy he reorganized and modernized the Ministry to meet 19th century standards. The Ministry was then permanently established at Saranrom Palace, east of the Grand Palace. The Ministry was divided into 7 divisions:
- Senabodi Division (Ministerial Division)
- Under-Secretary Division
- Translation Division
- Reception Division
- Accounts Division
- Filing Division
- Diplomatic Division
- Consular Division
After the Revolution of 1932
Siamese Revolution of 1932
The Siamese Revolution of 1932 or the Siamese Coup d'état of 1932 was a crucial turning point in Thai history in the 20th century...
, the Ministry came under civilian control and the Minister was made a member of the constitutional government of Siam. The first Minister under this new system was Phraya Sri Visarn Vacha.
See more at: Foreign relations of Thailand
Foreign relations of Thailand
The foreign relations of Thailand are handled by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.Thailand participates fully in international and regional organizations...
Departments
Most of the offices of the Ministry were moved to a new grand building complex; Sri Ayutthaya Building, 443 Sri Ayutthaya Rd. Phaya ThaiPhaya Thai
Phaya Thai is a district in central Bangkok, Thailand. It is also the name of a major road, as well as a BTS Skytrain station, both of which are in the nearby Ratchathewi district....
, Ratchathewi
Ratchathewi
Ratchathewi is a district in central Bangkok, Thailand. It is also name of a BTS Skytrain station.Neighboring districts are Phaya Thai, Din Daeng, Huai Khwang, Watthana, Pathum Wan, Pom Prap Sattru Phai and Dusit.-History:...
, Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
in 1992. This building is on the same premise where the Office of the South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) used to stand.
Dependent Departments
- Department of Consular Affairs
- Department of Protocol
- International Development Cooperation Agency
- Department of Economic Affairs
- Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs
- Department of Information
- Department of International Organization
Region Departments
- Department of European Affairs
- Department of American and South Pacific Affairs
- Department of ASEAN Affairs (for members of the ASEAN group)
- Department of East Asian Affairs
- Department of South Asian, Middle East and African Affairs
See also
- Foreign relations of ThailandForeign relations of ThailandThe foreign relations of Thailand are handled by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.Thailand participates fully in international and regional organizations...
- Diplomatic missions of ThailandDiplomatic missions of ThailandThis is a list of diplomatic missions of Thailand, excluding honorary consulates.-Europe:** Vienna ** Brussels ** Prague ** Copenhagen ** Helsinki ** Paris ** Berlin...
- Diplomatic missions of Thailand
- Cabinet of Thailand
- List of Government Ministers of Thailand
- Government of Thailand
External links
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Official Website in Thai
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Official Website in English