National Security Council (Thailand)

The National Security Council was established by the initiative of King Rama VI, whose purpose was to have a military mission to defend the country. Therefore, a council was formed on 11 December 1910, with the King as the chairman and the Chief-of-Staff of the Royal Thai Army as the Secretary-General of the council.

On 27 July 1927, there was an amendment to the composition and authority and a new name: “the National Defense Council” until 14 July 1932, after the Siamese revolution of 1932, the National Defense Council was dissolved. Later on 11 January 1944 during World War II, "the War Council" was established by issuing the War Council Act, which was the first Act regarding the National Security Council. Still, it was canceled because "the National Defense Council" was established instead by issuing the National Defense Council Act on 10 September 1944.

On 31 January 1956, a new National Defense Council Act was issued, repealing the old Act and remaining in use until the repeal of the National Defense Council Act, 1956, and the promulgation of the National Security Council Act, B.E. 1959 marks a change from The "National Defense Council" has been the "National Security Council (NSC)" until today.[6]

One of the main responsibilities of the NSC since its inception has been to solve problems in the South Thailand insurgency, immigrant, Border control, Transnational crime and terrorism, including using the NSC to manage emergency situations such as political demonstration and disasters.[7]

The NSC has created the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) to serve as an internal think tank tasked with spreading security expertise and advancing research on security policies.[8]

Under Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, NSC has been used as the main agency in dealing with COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand, with the establishment of the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) Operations Center, with the NSC secretary-general as director to integrate all agencies in the country to deal with COVID-19.[9] This situation causes Health security to be classified as one of the security that the National Security Council gives importance to as national security. During Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 which resulted in an energy and food crisis in Thailand, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has used NSC as the main agency in preparing plans to deal with energy and food crises in the short, medium, and long term.[10]

NSC meeting under Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in 2009

Secretary-General Thawil Pliensri (left) exchange the security situation wtih Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (center) in 2009

Secretary-General Nattaphon Narkphanit (right) met with U.S. Ambassador to UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield at NSC Office in 2021

The Office of the National Security Council (NSC) plays a vital role in Thailand's security efforts. It provides administrative support to the National Security Council and is responsible for crafting policies and action plans to address various threats to the nation's interests. This includes monitoring security assessments, analyzing strategic security changes, identifying threats, and evaluating national power in both domestic and international security contexts.[12]

The NSC office is situated within the Government House of Thailand.[13]