Foreign Secretary facts for kids

A Foreign Secretary or Secretary of Foreign Affairs is a very important government official in many countries. This person is usually the main advisor to their country's leader on how to deal with other countries around the world. They are in charge of foreign policy, which means they help decide how their country interacts with other nations.

This role is often held by a top diplomat or a cabinet minister. A diplomat is someone who represents their country in discussions with other countries. A cabinet minister is a senior member of the government, chosen by the leader to manage a specific department.

What a Foreign Secretary Does

A Foreign Secretary's main job is to manage their country's relationships with other nations. This includes many different tasks:

• Talking with other countries: They meet with leaders and diplomats from other parts of the world to discuss important issues like peace, trade, and global problems.
• Representing their country: They speak for their country at international meetings and organizations, like the United Nations.
• Leading the foreign affairs department: They are in charge of the government department that handles international relations, often called the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Department of State.
• Protecting citizens abroad: They help their country's citizens who are traveling or living in other countries.

Foreign Secretaries Around the World

The exact title and responsibilities of this role can be a little different from one country to another. Here are some examples:

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, the Foreign Secretary is a senior cabinet minister. They lead the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. This office is responsible for the UK's foreign policy and international development work.

India

India's Foreign Secretary is the top diplomat in the country. They are the administrative head of the Ministry of External Affairs, which is India's foreign ministry. This person is a civil servant, meaning they are a professional who works for the government, not a politician who is elected.

Other Countries

Many other countries have similar roles:

• In Bangladesh, the Foreign Secretary is the most senior diplomat in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• In Guyana, it's a senior official within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
• In Pakistan, the Foreign Secretary is the most senior civil servant in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• In Sri Lanka, this role is known as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Secretaries of Foreign Affairs

Some countries use the title "Secretary of Foreign Affairs" instead of "Foreign Secretary." The job is very similar:

• In the Federated States of Micronesia, this cabinet member leads the Department of Foreign Affairs.
• In Honduras, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs is a cabinet minister in charge of carrying out the country's foreign policy.
• In Mexico, this cabinet minister is also responsible for implementing foreign policy.
• In the Philippines, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs is a cabinet minister who handles the country's foreign policy.
• In San Marino, the minister in charge of foreign policy is called the Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs.

See also

• Ministry of foreign affairs, a government department that handles a country's relationships with other nations.