Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand)

Updated on Dec 02, 2024

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Formed 14 April 1840		Jurisdiction Government of Thailand

Headquarters Sri Ayutthaya Building, 443 Sri Ayutthaya Rd, Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400 Annual budget 7.9 billion baht (2012) Minister responsible Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ministry executive Norachit Sinhaseni, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thai: กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ; rtgs: Krasuang Kan Tang Prathet; Abrv: MFA) is the principal governmental 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 charged with formulating and executing foreign policies for the Kingdom of Thailand. The ministry manages and maintains Thai diplomatic missions around the globe.

History

Kromma Tha and Phra Khlang redirect here

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. The famous 17th-century Siamese ambassador to France Kosa Pan was the younger brother of King Narai's "Phra Khlang" Kosathibodi. 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 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.

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:

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.

Gustave Rolin-Jaequemyns, an international legal scholar, served as Adviser-General from 1892 to 1902.

Edward Strobel, a Harvard Law School Bemis Professor of International Law, served as American Adviser-General from 1906 until his death in 1908. He was followed by Harvard Law Professors Jens Westengard, Francis B. Sayre and Eldon James.

Reorganization

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

Departments

Most of the offices of the ministry were moved to a new grand building complex; Sri Ayutthaya Building, 443 Sri Ayutthaya Rd., Ratchathewi, Bangkok in 1992. This building is on the former premises of the Office of the South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO).

Administration

Office of the Minister

Office of the Permanent Secretary

Functional departments

Department of Consular Affairs

Department of Protocol

Thailand International Development Cooperation Agency

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 cooperation under the framework of the ASEAN group; 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