Ministry of foreign affairs

{{Short description|Cabinet ministry in charge of a country's foreign affairs}} {{Redirect|Foreign office|the British government department|Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office}} [[File:Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs @ Quai d’Orsay @ Ministry of Foreign Affairs @ Paris (29476241420).jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|The office of the [[French Minister of Foreign Affairs]] on the [[Quai d'Orsay]] in Paris]] [[File:James Callaghan and Max van der Stoel (1975).jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|British Foreign Secretary [[James Callaghan]] and Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs [[Max van der Stoel]] in 1975]]

In many countries, the '''ministry of foreign affairs''' (abbreviated as '''MFA''' or '''MOFA''') is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's [[foreign policy]] and relations, [[diplomacy]], [[bilateralism|bilateral]], and [[multilateralism|multilateral]] relations affairs as well as for providing support, including consular services, for a country's citizens who are abroad.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Bäck |first1=Hanna |last2=Flores |first2=Alejandro Quiroz |last3=Teorell |first3=Jan |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/elements/abs/selection-and-tenure-of-foreign-ministers-around-the-world/AFF8023333564D9B89DEFA04EA709EC9 |title=The Selection and Tenure of Foreign Ministers Around the World |date=2024 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |doi=10.1017/9781009441773 |isbn=978-1-009-44177-3 }}</ref> The entity is usually headed by a '''foreign minister''' or '''minister of foreign affairs''' (the title may vary, such as a [[secretary of state]] who has the same functions).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minister of Foreign Affairs |url=https://www.thefreedictionary.com/Minister+of+Foreign+Affairs |access-date=March 24, 2024 |website=[[The Free Dictionary]]}}</ref> The foreign minister typically reports to the head of government (such as prime minister or president).<ref> The Oxford Andrew F. Cooper, et al. eds. ''The Oxford Handbook of Modern Diplomacy'' (2015) [https://www.amazon.com/Oxford-Handbook-Modern-Diplomacy-Handbooks/dp/0198743661/ excerpt] chapters 4 and 5.</ref>

==Difference in titles== In some nations, such as [[India]], the foreign minister is referred to as the [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|minister for external affairs]]; or others, such as [[Brazil]] and the states created from the former [[Soviet Union]], call the position the minister of external relations. In the United States, the [[United States Secretary of State|secretary of state]] is the member of the [[Cabinet of the United States|Cabinet]] who handles foreign relations. Other common titles may include minister of foreign relations. In many countries of Latin America, the foreign minister is colloquially called "[[chancellor#Foreign minister and diplomatic official|chancellor]]" (''canciller'' in the Spanish-speaking countries and ''chanceler'' in the Portuguese-speaking Brazil).

Diplomats, themselves, and historians often refer to the foreign ministry by its local address, for example, the [[Ballhausplatz]] in Vienna housed the [[Foreign Ministry of Austria-Hungary]]; the [[Quai d'Orsay]] in [[Paris]] for France's [[Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (France)|Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs]]; the [[South Block]] in [[New Delhi]] for India's [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)|Ministry of External Affairs]]; the [[Necessidades Palace]] in Lisbon for Portugal's [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Portugal)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]]; the [[Wilhelmstraße]], in Berlin, was the location of the [[Federal Foreign Office|German Foreign Office]]; and [[Foggy Bottom]], a neighborhood of Washington, D.C., houses the [[United States Department of State|Department of State]]. The [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Brazil)|Ministry of External Relations]] of Brazil is often referred as the "Itamaraty" due to the two homonymous palaces that served as its headquarters, the original one in [[Rio de Janeiro]] (1899–1970) and the present [[Itamaraty Palace]] (since 1970) in [[Brasília]]. Indonesians also often refer to their [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Indonesia)#Ministers|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] as "Pejambon", since the ministry's main headquarters is located at Pejambon Street, [[Central Jakarta]]. During the [[Russian Empire]], which lasted until 1917, the term used was the [[Pevchesky Bridge|Choristers' Bridge]] in [[Saint Petersburg]]. In contrast, the Italian ministry was called the [[Palazzo della Consulta|Consulta]].<ref>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.</ref>

==Powers of position== A foreign minister's powers 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 system|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 [[Diplomacy|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 nation]]s.

In some countries, the foreign minister is typically among the highest profiles of cabinet positions. For instance, in the US, its foreign minister is the first member of cabinet in line for the presidential line of succession (with the vice president, speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and president pro-tempore of the United States Senate ahead of the foreign minister). The UK's foreign secretary belongs to the four Great Offices of State (along with the prime minister, chancellor of the exchequer, and home secretary).

==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.

* In the United Kingdom, the minister responsible for foreign policy (as well as the [[British Overseas Territories]]) is the [[Foreign Secretary (United Kingdom)|Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development affairs]] (Foreign Secretary). Before 1968, the [[Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (UK)|secretary of state for foreign affairs]] only handled relations with foreign (non-[[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]]) countries, while relations with Commonwealth countries and colonies were handled by the [[Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs|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|secretary of state]] handles foreign policy and is the senior [[United States Cabinet|Cabinet]] officer. The name of the post comes from several domestic duties. Under the [[Articles of Confederation]], the title was "Secretary of Foreign Affairs".

Although it is very rare for there to be any sub-national foreign minister post, sometimes there is a minor external relations position. The [[European Union]] has dealt with external relations in certain areas since its inception (see [[European Commissioner for Trade|EU Trade Commissioner]]) and has a [[High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy|high representative]] as its chief diplomat. However, his or her duties are primarily to implement [[Common Foreign and Security Policy|EU foreign policy]], rather than formulate it.

==Lists of current ministries of foreign affairs==

=== Named "ministry" === * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Afghanistan)]] * [[Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (Albania)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Algeria)]] * [[Ministry of External Affairs (Andorra)]] * [[Ministry of External Relations (Angola)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship]] (Argentina) * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Armenia)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Austria)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Azerbaijan)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (The Bahamas)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bahrain)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bangladesh)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and International Business (Barbados)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Belarus)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Belize)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (Benin)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bhutan)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bolivia)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bosnia and Herzegovina)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Botswana)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Brazil)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Brunei)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bulgaria)]] * [[Ministry of External Relations and International Cooperation (Burundi)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Cambodia)]] * [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Cameroon)]] * [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Central African Republic)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Chile)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (China)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Colombia)]] * [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Republic of the Congo)]] * [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Ivory Coast)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (Croatia)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cuba)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Czech Republic)]] * [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Democratic Republic of the Congo)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Denmark)]] * [[Ministry of External Relations (Dominican Republic)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Egypt)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Equatorial Guinea)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Eritrea)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Estonia)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ethiopia)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Fiji)]] * [[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Finland)]] * [[Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (France)|Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs]] (France) * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia]] *[[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ghana)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Ghana)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Greece)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Guatemala)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Guyana)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Haiti)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Hungary)]] * [[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Iceland)]] * [[Ministry of External Affairs (India)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Indonesia)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Iran)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Iraq)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Italy)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (Jamaica)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates (Jordan)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kazakhstan)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs (Kenya)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration]] ([[Kiribati]]) * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (North Korea)]]{{anchor|Korea}} * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (South Korea)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kosovo)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kuwait)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kyrgyzstan)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Laos)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Latvia)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants (Lebanon)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations (Lesotho)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Liberia)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Lithuania)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Luxembourg)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (North Macedonia)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Malaysia)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Maldives)]] * [[Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs (Malta)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mauritania)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (Moldova)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Moldova)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mongolia)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Montenegro)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates]] (Morocco) * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Myanmar)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Nepal)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Netherlands)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (New Zealand)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and African Integration]] (Niger) * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Norway)]] * [[Foreign Ministry (Oman)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Pakistan)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates (Palestine)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Peru)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Poland)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Portugal)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Qatar)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Romania)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (Rwanda)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Saint Kitts and Nevis)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Communities]] (São Tomé and Príncipe) * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Saudi Arabia)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Serbia)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Seychelles)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Singapore)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (Slovakia)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (Slovenia)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Somalia)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Somaliland)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (South Sudan)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (Spain)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Sri Lanka)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Sudan)]] * [[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Sweden)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates (Syria)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Tajikistan)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation]] (Tanzania) * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (Timor-Leste)]] * [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Tonga)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Transnistria)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Tunisia)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Turkey)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Turkmenistan)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Uganda)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ukraine)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (United Arab Emirates)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Relations (Uruguay)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Uzbekistan)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Vietnam)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Yemen)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Zambia)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Zimbabwe)]]

===Equivalents named "department" === * [[Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia)]] * [[Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Ireland)]] * [[Department of External Relations (Monaco)]] * [[Department of Foreign Affairs (Philippines)]] * [[Department of International Relations and Cooperation]] (South Africa) * [[Federal Department of Foreign Affairs]] (Switzerland) * [[United States Department of State]]

=== Other names === * [[Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs]] (Belgium) * [[Global Affairs Canada]] * [[European External Action Service]] (European Union) * [[Federal Foreign Office]] (Germany) * [[Secretariat of State (Holy See)]] * [[Secretariat of Foreign Affairs (Honduras)]] * [[Office of the Commissioner (Hong Kong)]] * [[Office of the Commissioner (Macau)]] * [[Secretariat of Foreign Affairs (Mexico)]] * [[Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office]] (United Kingdom)

== Historical == === Named "ministry" === * [[Foreign Ministry of Austria-Hungary]] * [[Ministry of External Affairs and Defence]] (Ceylon) * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Czechoslovakia)]] * [[Foreign Ministry of the Independent State of Croatia]] * [[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (East Germany)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Hawaii)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ottoman Empire)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Prussia)]] * [[Prussian Ministry of the Interior]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Imperial Russia)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Soviet Union)]] * [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Yugoslavia)]]

==Lists== * [[List of current foreign ministers]] * [[List of female foreign ministers]]

===By year=== * [[List of foreign ministers in 1950|1950]] * [[List of foreign ministers in 1990|1990]], [[List of foreign ministers in 1991|1991]], [[List of foreign ministers in 1992|1992]], [[List of foreign ministers in 1993|1993]], [[List of foreign ministers in 1994|1994]], [[List of foreign ministers in 1995|1995]], [[List of foreign ministers in 1996|1996]], [[List of foreign ministers in 1997|1997]], [[List of foreign ministers in 1998|1998]], [[List of foreign ministers in 1999|1999]] * [[List of foreign ministers in 2000|2000]], [[List of foreign ministers in 2001|2001]], [[List of foreign ministers in 2002|2002]], [[List of foreign ministers in 2003|2003]], [[List of foreign ministers in 2004|2004]], [[List of foreign ministers in 2005|2005]], [[List of foreign ministers in 2006|2006]], [[List of foreign ministers in 2007|2007]], [[List of foreign ministers in 2008|2008]], [[List of foreign ministers in 2009|2009]] * [[List of foreign ministers in 2010|2010]], [[List of foreign ministers in 2011|2011]], [[List of foreign ministers in 2012|2012]], [[List of foreign ministers in 2013|2013]], [[List of foreign ministers in 2014|2014]], [[List of foreign ministers in 2015|2015]], [[List of foreign ministers in 2016|2016]], [[List of foreign ministers in 2017|2017]], [[List of foreign ministers in 2018|2018]], [[List of foreign ministers in 2019|2019]] * [[List of foreign ministers in 2020|2020]], [[List of foreign ministers in 2021|2021]], [[List of foreign ministers in 2022|2022]], [[List of foreign ministers in 2023|2023]], [[List of foreign ministers in 2024|2024]], [[List of foreign ministers in 2025|2025]]

==References== {{Reflist}} ==Further reading== * Steiner, Zara. "Foreign ministries old and new." ''International Journal'' 37.3 (1982): 349-377. * Steiner, Zara. ''The Times survey of foreign ministries of the world'' (1982).in-depth look at ministres in 24 major counties since late 19th century

== External links == {{Commonscatinline}} * [http://www.ediplomat.com/dc/foreign_ministries.htm eDiplomat.com: Foreign Affairs Ministries]

[[Category:Foreign ministers| ]] [[Category:Foreign affairs ministries| ]] [[Category:Government ministers by portfolio|Foreign]] [[Category:Diplomacy]] [[Category:Lists of government ministries|Foreign Affairs]]