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In many countries, theministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated asMFA orMOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state'sforeign policy andrelations,diplomacy,bilateral, andmultilateral relations affairs as well as for providing support, including consular services, for a country's citizens who are abroad.[1] The entity is usually headed by aforeign minister orminister of foreign affairs (the title may vary, such assecretary of state who has the same functions).[2] The foreign minister typically reports to the head of government (such as prime minister or president).[3]
In some nations, such asIndia, the foreign minister is referred to as theminister for external affairs; or others, such asBrazil and the states created from the formerSoviet Union, call the position the minister of external relations. In the United States, thesecretary of state is the member of theCabinet 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" (canciller in the Spanish-speaking countries andchanceler in the Portuguese-speaking Brazil).
Diplomats, themselves, and historians often refer to the foreign ministry by its local address, for example, theBallhausplatz in Vienna housed theForeign Ministry of Austria-Hungary; theQuai d'Orsay inParis for France'sMinistry of Europe and Foreign Affairs; theSouth Block inNew Delhi for India'sMinistry of External Affairs; theNecessidades Palace in Lisbon for Portugal'sMinistry of Foreign Affairs; theWilhelmstraße, in Berlin, was the location of theGerman Foreign Office; andFoggy Bottom, a neighborhood of Washington, D.C., houses theDepartment of State. TheMinistry 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 inRio de Janeiro (1899–1970) and the presentItamaraty Palace (since 1970) inBrasília. Indonesians also often refer to theirMinistry of Foreign Affairs as "Pejambon", since the ministry's main headquarters is located at Pejambon Street,Central Jakarta. During theRussian Empire, which lasted until 1917, the term used was theChoristers' Bridge inSaint Petersburg. In contrast, the Italian ministry was called theConsulta.[4]
A foreign minister's powers vary from government to government. In a classicparliamentary system, a foreign minister can potentially exert significant influence in formingforeign policy but when the government is dominated by a strongprime 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 inpresidential governments with a strongexecutive branch. Since the end of World War II, it has been common for both the foreign minister anddefense minister to be part of an inner cabinet (commonly known as anational security council) in order to coordinate defense anddiplomatic policy. Although the 19th and early 20th centuries saw many heads of government assume the foreign ministry, this practice has since become uncommon in mostdeveloped 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 (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).
Along with their political roles, foreign ministers are also traditionally responsible for many diplomatic duties, such as hosting foreign world leaders and going onstate 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, sometimes there is a minor external relations position. TheEuropean Union has dealt with external relations in certain areas since its inception (seeEU Trade Commissioner) and has ahigh representative as its chief diplomat. However, his or her duties are primarily to implementEU foreign policy, rather than formulate it.
Media related toForeign affairs ministries at Wikimedia Commons
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