Foreign minister

A foreign minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations.[1]

World contexts

Difference in titles

In some nations, such as India, the Foreign Minister is referred to as the " Minister for External Affairs" or, as in the case of Brazil, "Minister of Foreign Affairs" and of the former Soviet Union, this position is known as the "Minister of External Relations". In the United States, the equivalent to the foreign ministry is called the "Department of State", and the equivalent position is known as the "Secretary of State". Other common titles may include "Minister of Foreign Relations". In many Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries in Latin America, the foreign minister is colloquially called "Canciller".

Diplomats themselves and historians often refer to the foreign ministry by its local address: the Ballhausplatz (Vienna), the Quai d’Orsay (Paris), the Itamaraty (Brasília), the Wilhelmstraße (Berlin); and Foggy Bottom (Washington). For imperial Russia, to 1917 it was the Choristers’ Bridge (St Petersburg). The Italian ministry was called "the Consulta."[2]

Powers of position

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 branch. 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 defense and diplomatic policy. Although the 19th and early 20th centuries saw many heads of government assume the foreign ministry, this practice has since become uncommon in most developed nations.

Responsibilities

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.

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.

By year

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Country, territory, partially recognised country or other entity Name of office Head of the office
 Afghanistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Albania Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Algeria Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Andorra Ministry of External Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs and Institutional Relations
 Angola Ministry of External Relations Minister of External Relations
 Antigua and Barbuda Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs
 Argentina Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship Ministers of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship
 Armenia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs
 Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister for Foreign Affairs
 Austria Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs
 Azerbaijan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration
 Bahrain Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs
 Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Barbados Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and International Business Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
 Belarus Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs
 Belgium Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs, External Trade and European Affairs
 Belize Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
 Benin Ministry of Foreign Affairs and African Integration Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration, La Francophonie, and Beninese Abroad
 Bhutan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs
 Bolivia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chancellor
 Bosnia and Herzegovina Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Botswana Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
 Brazil Ministry of External Relations Minister of External Relations
 Brunei Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade
 Bulgaria Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Burkina Faso Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation
 Burundi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
 Cambodia Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
 Cameroon Ministry of External Relations Minister of External Relations
 Canada Department of Global Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Cape Verde Ministry of External Affairs Minister of External Affairs
 Central African Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration, La Francophonie Affairs, and Central Africans Abroad Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration, La Francophonie Affairs, and Central Africans Abroad
 Chad Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs and African Integration
 Chile Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 China Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Hong Kong Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Commerce and Economic Development Bureau

Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau

 Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development

Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs

 Macau Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Macao Special Administrative Region

Secretariat for Economy and Finance

Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture

 Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Macao Special Administrative Region

Secretary of Economy and Finance of Macau

Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of Macau

 Colombia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Comoros Ministry of External Relations, of Cooperation, in Charge of the Diaspora, of la Francophonie and of the Arab World Minister of External Relations, of Cooperation, in Charge of the Diaspora, of la Francophonie and of the Arab World
 Democratic Republic of the Congo Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and La Francophonie
 Republic of the Congo Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
 Cook Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration
 Costa Rica Ministry of External Relations Minister of External Relations and Worship
 Côte d'Ivoire Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Croatia Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs Minister of Foreign and European Affairs
 Cuba Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Czech Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Denmark Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Djibouti Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
 Dominica Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Dominican Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Ecuador Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Integration Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Integration
 Egypt Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 El Salvador Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Equatorial Guinea Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and La Francophonie
 Eritrea Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Estonia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Ethiopia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 European Union European External Action Service High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
 Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Civil Aviation
 Finland Ministry for Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs
 France Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development
 Gabon Ministry for Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, La Francophonie, in charge of NEPAD and Regional Integration
 The Gambia Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad
 Georgia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Germany Foreign Office Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Ghana Ministry for Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration
 Greece Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs
 Grenada Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Business Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Business
 Guatemala Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs
 Guernsey Policy Council External Relations Team
 Guinea Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs and Guineans Abroad
 Guinea-Bissau Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
 Guyana Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Haiti Ministry for Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship
 Honduras Secretariat of Foreign Affairs Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
 Hungary Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Iceland Ministry for Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs
 India Ministry of External Affairs Minister of External Affairs
 Indonesia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Iran Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Iraq Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Ireland Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade
 Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Italy Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Jamaica Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade
 Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Jersey Ministry of External Relations Minister for External Relations
 Jordan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Kazakhstan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministers of Foreign Affairs
 Kenya Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs
 Kiribati Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration
 North Korea Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 South Korea Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Kosovo Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Kuwait Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Kyrgyzstan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Laos Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Latvia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Lebanon Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants
 Lesotho Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Relations
 Liberia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Libya Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
 Liechtenstein Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Lithuania Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Luxembourg Ministry for Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs
 Republic of Macedonia Ministry for Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs
 Madagascar Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Malawi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
 Malaysia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Mali Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
 Malta Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Marshall Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Mauritania Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
 Mauritius Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade
 Mexico Secretariat of Foreign Affairs Secretary of Foreign Affairs
 Federated States of Micronesia Department of Foreign Affairs, Overseas Embassies, Consulates, and Missions Secretary of Foreign Affairs
 Moldova Ministry of the Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration
 Monaco Department of External Relations Government Counsellor for External Relations
 Mongolia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Montenegro Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration
 Morocco Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
 Mozambique Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
 Myanmar Ministry of Foreign Affairs Union Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Namibia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Nauru Department of Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Health and Sport
   Nepal Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs
 The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Nicaragua Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Niger Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and African Integration Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, African Integration and Nigeriens Abroad
 Nigeria Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Niue Premiers Department Minister of External Affairs
 Norway Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Oman Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
 Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Palau Ministry of State Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
 Palestine Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs
 Panama Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Papua New Guinea Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration
 Paraguay Ministry of Foreign Relations Minister of Foreign Relations
 Peru Ministry of Foreign Relations Minister of Foreign Relations
 Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary of Foreign Affairs
 Poland Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Portugal Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of State and Foreign Affairs
 Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Romania Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Rwanda Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
 Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Saint Kitts and Nevis Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs, National Security, Labour, Immigration and Social Security
 Saint Lucia Ministry of External Affairs Minister for External Affairs, International Trade and Civil Aviation
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Consumer Affairs
 Samoa Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade
 San Marino Secretariat of State for Foreign and Political Affairs Secretary for Foreign Affairs
 São Tomé and Príncipe Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Communities Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Communities
 Saudi Arabia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Senegal Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad
 Serbia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Seychelles Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs
 Sierra Leone Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs
 Slovakia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign and European Affairs
 Slovenia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Solomon Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade
 Somalia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 South Africa Department of International Relations and Cooperation Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
 South Ossetia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 South Sudan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
 Spain Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
 Sri Lanka Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Sudan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Suriname Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Swaziland Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
 Sweden Ministry for Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs
  Switzerland Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
 Syria Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates
 Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Tajikistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Tanzania Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
 Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Timor-Leste Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister of State and of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
 Togo Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
 Tonga Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs, Defence, Information and Communication
 Transnistria Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Tunisia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Turkmenistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Tuvalu Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs, Environment, Trade, Labour and Tourism
 Uganda Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Ukraine Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister for Foreign Affairs
 United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
 United States Department of State Secretary of State
 Uruguay Ministry of Foreign Relations Minister of Foreign Relations
 Uzbekistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Vanuatu Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade
  Vatican City Secretariat of State Secretary for Relations with States
 Venezuela Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of the Popular Participation for Foreign Affairs
 Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Yemen Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Zambia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism
 Zimbabwe Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs

Former countries

Former country Name of office Head of the office
 Austria-Hungary Foreign Ministry Foreign Ministers
 Czechoslovakia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 East Germany Ministry for Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Irish Free State Department of External Affairs Minister of External Affairs
 Prussia Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Soviet Union Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Yugoslavia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Minister+of+Foreign+Affairs
  2. ↑ David Stevenson, "The Diplomats" in Jay Winter, ed. The Cambridge History of the First World War: Volume II: The State (2014) vol 2 p 68.
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