Foreign minister
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A Foreign Minister or Minister of Foreign Affairs is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations.[1]
Contents
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 and of the former Soviet Union, 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-speaking countries in Latin America, the foreign minister is colloquially called canciller (chancellor).
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. 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.
- 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.
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
- 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
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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 Global 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 | Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region |
Macau | Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Macao Special Administrative Region | 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 for Foreign Affairs | Minister for 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 |
Macedonia, Former Yugoslav Republic of. | 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 | 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 |
Northern Cyprus | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Minister of Foreign 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
See also
References
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External links
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