Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand (Abrv: MFA; Thai: กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ, RTGS: Krasuang Kan Tang Prathet) is the principal governmental department in charge of foreign relations for Thailand. The ministry is headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is also a member of the Cabinet of Thailand. The minister is appointed by the prime minister. The ministry is charged with formulating and executing foreign policies for the Kingdom of Thailand. The ministry manages and maintains Thai diplomatic missions around the globe.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ
The Crystal Lotus seal of the ministry
Ministry overview
Formed14 April 1840 (1840-04-14)
JurisdictionGovernment of Thailand
Headquarters443 Sri Ayutthaya Rd, Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400
Annual budget9.2 billion baht (FY2019)
Minister responsible
Deputy Minister responsible
  • Jakkapong Sangmanee
Ministry executive
  • Sarun Charoensuwan, Permanent Secretary
Websitewww.mfa.go.th

History

Prior to the creation of the ministry, much of the country's foreign relations were handled by the absolute monarchs of the day. During the Kingdom of Ayutthaya foreign relations were handled by the "Krom Phra Khlang" (Thai: กรมพระคลัง) (or the Treasury Department). The head of the department was known as "Phra Khlang" (Thai: พระคลัง) and occasionally referred to as "Berguelang" or "Barcelon" by foreign authors. A notable Phra Khlang Kosathibodi during the reign of King Narai was Kosa Lek, who was the elder brother of the famous 17th-century Siamese ambassador to France Kosa Pan. Kosa Pan also became a Phra Khlang Kosathibodi upon the reign of Petracha. Soon after, a sub-department called "Kromma Tha" (Thai: กรมท่า, "Port Department") was created to deal with foreigners.

During the Bangkok Period most of these features were retained. For instance, the Chau Phaya-Phraklang in his capacity as Minister of State on behalf of Jessadabodindra[1] negotiated the Siamese-American Treaty of Amity and Commerce of 1833 with Edmund Roberts in his capacity as Minister of the United States on behalf of President Andrew Jackson.

The ministry during its headquarter at the Saranrom Palace in 1954

In 1840, King Mongkut, the next king, 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 "Krom" were shifted to this ministry. Chao Phraya 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 seven divisions:[2]

  • Senabodi Division (Ministerial Division)
  • Under-Secretary Division
  • Translation Division
  • Reception Division
  • Accounts Division
  • Filing Division
  • Diplomatic Division
  • Consular Division

Foreign affairs advisers

From 1892 to 1924, the Siamese government retained the professional legal services of lawyers skilled in international law.

Reorganization
Vithes Samosorn Hall inside Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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.[5]

In 1992, the ministry office was moved to Si Ayutthaya Road, Thung Phaya Thai Subdistrict, Ratchathewi District, Bangkok in the area that used to be the headquarter of Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), the Ministry also has an office building of the Department of Consular Affairs at Chaengwattana Road.

See more at: Foreign relations of Thailand

Operations

The MFA budget for FY2019 is 9,197.3 million baht.[6]

Administration
  • Office of the Minister
  • Office of the Permanent Secretary

Functional departments
  • Department of Consular Affairs
  • Department of Protocol
  • Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA)
  • Department of International Economic Affairs
  • Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs
  • Department of Information
  • Department of International Organizations

Regional departments
  • Department of European Affairs
  • Department of American and South Pacific Affairs
  • Department of ASEAN Affairs (for international undertakings under the framework of ASEAN ; while bilateral relations between Thailand and each ASEAN member is under the East Asian Affairs Department)
  • Department of East Asian Affairs
  • Department of South Asian, Middle East and African Affairs

List of ministers

This is a list of ministers of foreign affairs of Thailand:[7][8]

See also

References
  1. Roberts, Edmund (October 12, 2007) [First published in 1837]. "Chapter XX―Division of Time". Embassy to the Eastern courts of Cochin-China, Siam, and Muscat: in the U. S. sloop-of-war Peacock ... during the years 1832-3-4 (Digital ed.). Harper & Brothers. pp. 310–311. ISBN 9780608404066. Retrieved April 25, 2012. [T]he capital [is] called Si-a-Yuthia, (pronounced See-ah-you-té-ah....)
  2. "Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand". Archived from the original on 2008-12-01. Retrieved 2008-12-03.
  3. Obias, Peter B. (1972). "Treaty Revision and the Role of the American Foreign Affairs Adviser 1909-1925" (PDF). Journal of the Siam Society. Siam Society. JSS Vol.60.1e (digital). Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  4. Thamsook Numnonda (1974). "The First American Advisers in Thai History" (PDF). Journal of the Siam Society. Siam Society. JSS Vol.62.2f (digital): image 5. Retrieved September 7, 2013. The eventful forty-two year reign of King Chulalongkorn of Thailand (1868-1910) was a landmark in Thai history. It was the period that Thailand began to develop herself into a modern state, with the abolition of extrality (extraterritoriality), the negotiations of treaties, the reform of law and judicial administration, and the reorganization of governmental agencies. The achievement of these aims was, in fact, partly due to the work of the "foreign advisers" who shared roles in the affairs of this small Asian country.
  5. "Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand". Archived from the original on 2008-05-26. Retrieved 2008-12-03.
  6. Thailand's Budget in Brief Fiscal Year 2019 (Revised ed.). Bureau of the Budget Thailand. 2018. p. 82. Retrieved 2019-01-18.
  7. "Foreign ministers S–Z". rulers.org. B. Schemmel. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  8. "Names of Past Foreign Ministers". Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
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