Foreign minister
A minister for foreign affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government (prime minister or president). It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in coalition governments. In some nations, such as India, the foreign minister is referred to as the Minister for External Affairs.
A foreign minister's powers can vary from government to government. In a classic parliamentary system, a foreign minister can potentially exert significant influence in forming foreign policy but when the government is dominated by a strong prime minister the foreign minister may be limited to playing a more marginal or subsidiary role in determining policy. Similarly, the political powers invested in the foreign minister are often more limited in presidential governments with a strong executive. Since the end of World War II, it has been common for both the foreign minister and defense minister to be part of an inner cabinet (commonly known as a national security council) in order to coordinate defence and diplomatic policy. Although the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries saw many heads of government assume the foreign ministry, this practice has since become uncommon in most developed nations.
Along with their political roles, foreign ministers are also traditionally responsible for many diplomatic duties, such as hosting foreign world leaders and going on state visits to other countries. The foreign minister is generally the most well-traveled member of any cabinet.
In the United Kingdom, the minister responsible for foreign policy as well as the British overseas territories) is the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Foreign Secretary). Before 1968, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs only handled relations with foreign (non-Commonwealth) countries, while relations with Commonwealth countries and colonies were handled by the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs. For the same reason, in Commonwealth countries other than the United Kingdom, the ministers responsible for handling relations with both Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth countries were formerly usually designated ministers for 'External Affairs'.
In the United States, the United States Secretary of State handles foreign policy and is the senior Cabinet officer. The name of the post comes from several domestic duties.
Although it is very rare for there to be any sub-national foreign minister post, although sometimes there is a minor external relations position, it can exist supranationally. The European Union has dealt with external relations in certain areas since its inception (see EU Trade Commissioner) and has a High Representative as its chief diplomat. However her duties are primarily to implement EU foreign policy, rather than formulate it.
Other common titles may include minister of foreign relations. In many Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America, the foreign minister is colloquially called canciller (chancellor) (in Brazil, a Portuguese-speaking country, is chanceler).
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Related articles and lists
By year
- 1950
- 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
- 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
| State | Ministry | Minister |
|---|---|---|
 Abkhazia |
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia | |
 Afghanistan |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Afghanistan) | |
 Albania |
Minister of Foreign Affairs (Albania) | |
 Angola |
Minister of External Relations (Angola) | |
 Argentina |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship | Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship |
 Armenia |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Armenia) | Minister for Foreign Affairs (Armenia) |
 Australia |
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade | Minister for Foreign Affairs (Australia) |
 Austria |
Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (Austria) | |
 Azerbaijan |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Azerbaijan) | Minister of Foreign Affairs (Azerbaijan) |
 Bahamas |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bahamas) | Minister of Foreign Affairs (Bahamas) |
 Bangladesh |
Foreign Minister of Bangladesh | |
.svg.png){kind=small} Belgium |
FPS Foreign Affairs Belgium | Minister of Foreign Affairs (Belgium) |
 Benin |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and African Integration (Benin) | Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration, La Francophonie, and Beninese Abroad |
 Brazil |
Ministry of External Relations (Brazil) | |
 Canada |
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade | Secretary of State for External Affairs (Canada) (1909–1933) Minister of Foreign Affairs (Canada) (1993–present) |
 People's Republic of China |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China | Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China |
 Republic of China |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Republic of China) | Minister of Foreign Affairs (Republic of China) |
 Chile |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Chile) | |
 Colombia |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Colombia) | |
 Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Minister of Foreign Affairs (Democratic Republic of the Congo) | |
 Croatia |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (Croatia) | |
 Cuba |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cuba) | Minister of Foreign Affairs (Cuba) |
 Cyprus |
Minister of Foreign Affairs (Cyprus) | |
 Czech Republic |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Czech Republic) | Minister of Foreign Affairs (Czech Republic) |
 Denmark |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Denmark) | Minister of Foreign Affairs (Denmark) (list) |
 Egypt |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Egypt) | Minister of Foreign Affairs (Egypt) |
 Estonia |
Minister of Foreign Affairs (Estonia) | |
 Ethiopia |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ethiopia) | |
 Fiji |
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Fiji) | |
 Finland |
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Finland) | |
 France |
Minister of Foreign Affairs (France) | |
 Gabon |
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Gabon) | |
 Georgia |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Georgia) | |
 Germany |
Foreign Office (Germany) | Minister for Foreign Affairs (Germany) |
 East Germany |
Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the German Democratic Republic | Foreign Minister of the German Democratic Republic |
 Ghana |
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ghana) | |
 Greece |
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Greece) | |
 Haiti |
Minister for Foreign Affairs | |
 Hungary |
Minister of Foreign Affairs (Hungary) | |
 Iceland |
Minister of Foreign Affairs (Iceland) | |
 India |
Ministry of External Affairs (India) | Minister of External Affairs (India) |
 Iran |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Iran) | |
 Ireland |
Department of Foreign Affairs (Ireland) | Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ireland) |
 Israel |
Minister of Foreign Affairs (Israel) | |
 Italy |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Italy) | Minister of Foreign Affairs (Italy) |
 Japan |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan) | Minister for Foreign Affairs (Japan) |
 Kenya |
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Kenya) | |
 Kosovo |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kosovo) | |
 Liberia |
Minister of Foreign Affairs (Liberia) | |
 Libya |
Minister of Foreign Affairs (Libya) | |
 Lithuania |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Lithuania) | |
 Luxembourg |
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Luxembourg) | |
 Malaysia |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Malaysia) | |
 Malta |
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Malta | |
 Mexico |
Secretariat of Foreign Affairs (Mexico) | Secretary of Foreign Affairs (Mexico) |
 Moldova |
Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (Moldova) | |
 Montenegro |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Montenegro) | |
 Namibia |
Minister of Foreign Affairs (Namibia) | |
 Netherlands |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Netherlands) | Minister of Foreign Affairs (Netherlands) |
 New Zealand |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (New Zealand) | Minister of Foreign Affairs (New Zealand) |
 Nigeria |
Minister of Foreign Affairs (Nigeria) | |
 Norway |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Norway) | Minister of Foreign Affairs (Norway) |
 Pakistan |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Pakistan) | Minister of Foreign Affairs (Pakistan) |
 Palestine |
Foreign Affairs Minister of the Palestinian National Authority | |
 Philippines |
Department of Foreign Affairs (Philippines) | |
 Poland |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Poland) | |
 Portugal |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Portugal) | Minister of Foreign Affairs (Portugal) |
 Romania |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Romania) | |
 Russia |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia) | Minister of Foreign Affairs (Russia) |
 São Tomé and Príncipe |
Minister of Foreign Affairs (São Tomé and Príncipe) | |
 Scotland |
Minister for Culture and External Affairs | |
 Senegal |
Foreign Minister of Senegal | |
 Serbia |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Serbia) | |
 Seychelles |
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Seychelles) | |
 Sierra Leone |
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Sierra Leone) | |
 Singapore |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Singapore) | Minister for Foreign Affairs (Singapore) |
 South Africa |
Department of International Relations and Cooperation (South Africa) | |
 South Korea |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (South Korea) | |
 Sri Lanka |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Sri Lanka) | Minister of Foreign Affairs (Sri Lanka) |
 Spain |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (Spain) | |
 Sweden |
Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Sweden) | Minister for Foreign Affairs (Sweden) |
 Switzerland |
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs | Federal Councillor heading the Ministry |
 Syria |
Minister of Foreign Affairs (Syria) | |
| Taiwan |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Republic of China) | Minister of Foreign Affairs (Republic of China) |
 Thailand |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand) | |
 Turkey |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand) | Minister of Foreign Affairs (Turkey) |
 Ukraine |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ukraine) | |
 United Kingdom |
Foreign and Commonwealth Office | Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (before 1968 called the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs) |
 United States |
United States Department of State | United States Secretary of State |
 Uruguay |
Minister of Foreign Affairs (Uruguay) | |
 Vatican City |
Section for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State | Secretary for Relations with States |
 Venezuela |
Minister of Foreign Affairs (Venezuela) | |
 Yugoslavia |
Minister of Foreign Affairs (Yugoslavia) |
- Minister of Foreign Affairs (Yugoslavia)
- List of foreign ministers of Austria-Hungary
- List of foreign ministers of Prussia
See also
External links
- eDiplomat.com: Foreign Affairs Ministries
- Foreign Ministries: Adaptation to a Changing World A collection of papers and presentations from a conference which address the issues of performance management and accountability assessment in foreign ministries, diplomacy of small states, foreign services conduct of economic, cultural and public diplomacy.
- The Diplo Directory A detailed survey of websites of ministries of foreign affairs, embassies, and other diplomatic and consular missions.
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