Ministry of foreign affairs

In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and relations, diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral relations affairs as well as for providing support, including consular services, for a country's citizens who are abroad. The entity is usually headed by a foreign minister or minister of foreign affairs. The foreign minister typically reports to the head of government.

Difference in titles

In some nations, such as India, the foreign minister is referred to as the 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 secretary of state is the member of the 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".
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 of Europe and Foreign Affairs; the South Block in New Delhi for India's Ministry of External Affairs; the Necessidades Palace in Lisbon for Portugal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Wilhelmstraße, in Berlin, was the location of the German Foreign Office; and Foggy Bottom, a neighborhood of Washington, D.C., houses the Department of State. The 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 and the present Itamaraty Palace in Brasília. Indonesians also often refer to their 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 Choristers' Bridge in Saint Petersburg. In contrast, the Italian ministry was called the Consulta.

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 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 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.
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. The UK's foreign secretary belongs to the four Great Offices of State.

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 is the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development affairs. Before 1968, the secretary of state for foreign affairs only handled relations with foreign 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 secretary of state handles foreign policy and is the senior 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 and has a high representative as its chief diplomat. However, his or her duties are primarily to implement EU foreign policy, rather than formulate it.

Lists of current ministries of foreign affairs

Named "ministry"

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of External Affairs
Ministry of External Relations
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and International Business
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of External Relations and International Cooperation
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of External Relations
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Ministry of External Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and African Integration
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Foreign Ministry
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Communities
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Relations
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs