Ministry of Defence (Thailand)
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Ministry of Defence (Thailand)
| กระทรวงกลาโหม | |
 Ministry of Defense building, opposite Temple of the Emerald Buddha | |
| Ministry overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 8 April 1887 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Thailand |
| Headquarters | Headquarters building, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok |
| Annual budget | |
| Minister responsible |
|
| Ministry executive |
|
| Website | MOD.go.th [8] |
The Ministry of Defence (Abrv: MOD; Thai: กระทรวงกลาโหม, RTGS: Krasuang Kalahom), is a cabinet-level government department of the Kingdom of Thailand. The ministry controls and manages the Royal Thai Armed Forces to maintain national security, territorial integrity, and national defence. The armed forces of Thailand are composed of three branches: the Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy, and Royal Thai Air Force.
Although the King of Thailand is the supreme head of the Thai armed forces (Thai: จอมทัพไทย), his position is only nominal. The ministry and the forces are administered by an appointed politician, the Minister of Defence, a member of the Cabinet of Thailand. The post of Minister of Defence has been held by General Prawit Wongsuwon, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, since August 2014.
| กระทรวงกลาโหม | |
Ministry of Defense building, opposite Temple of the Emerald Buddha | |
| Ministry overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 8 April 1887 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Thailand |
| Headquarters | Headquarters building, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok |
| Annual budget | |
| Minister responsible |
|
| Ministry executive |
|
| Website | MOD.go.th [8] |
History
Initially, the Ministry was called Krom Kalahom (Thai: กรมกลาโหม) and its head was called Samuha Kalahom (Thai: สมุหกลาโหม), and it was charged with the protection of the southern border. It was founded in the Ayutthaya period and was retained throughout the Rattanakosin period. The ministry in its current design was formed in 1887, by the order of King Chulalongkorn, to create a permanent military command. This was a result of the increasing threat posed by Western powers. The ministry was first housed in an old horse-and-elephant stable opposite the Grand Palace. A new European-style building was erected to house it. At first the ministry only commanded the army (founded in 1847), but then it incorporated the navy (founded in 1887), and finally, the air force (founded in 1913). In 1914, King Vajiravudh determined that the act providing for invoking martial law, first promulgated by his father in 1907, was not consistent with modern laws of war nor convenient for the preservation of the external or internal security of the state, so it was changed to the modern form that, with minor amendments, continues to be in force.[3]
Budget
For fiscal year 2018 (FY2018) the army's budget is 107,457 million baht; the navy's, 43,835 million baht; and the air force, 39,931 million baht.[2]
List of Ministers
Structure
| Office |  Ministry of Defense | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Minister รัฐมนตรีว่าการ | General Prayut Chan-o-cha | ||
| Deputy Minister รัฐมนตรีช่วยว่าการ | General Chaichan Changmongkol | ||
| Permanent Secretary ปลัดกระทรวง | General Nath Intharacharoen | ||
| Office |  Royal Thai Armed Forces HQ | ||
| Chief of the Defense Forces ผู้บัญชาการทหารสูงสุด | General Pornpipat Benyasri | ||
| Office |  Royal Thai Army |  Royal Thai Navy |  Royal Thai Air Force |
| Commander-in-Chief ผู้บัญชาการ | General Apirat Kongsompong | Admiral Luechai Ruddit | Air Chief Marshal Chaipruek Didyasarin[4] |
Departments
Departmental organisation
Office of Minister of Defense
Office of the Permanent Secretary for defense
Royal Thai Armed Forces
Military courts of Thailand
Associated organizations
Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School
National Defence College of Thailand
Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy
Royal Thai Naval Academy
Royal Thai Air Force Academy
Other agencies
Defense Technology Institute (Public Organisation)
The War Veterans Department
Bangkok Dock Company