The National Security Council (NSC, Thai: สภาความมั่นคงแห่งชาติ), served by its operating body the Office of the National Security Council (Thai: สำนักงานสภาความมั่นคงแห่งชาติ), is the principal Thai national security and intelligence forum used by the Prime Minister and Cabinet of Thailand for coordinating security and defense policies for Thailand.[1][2]
The National Security Council has an office that performs secretarial duties for the council, the Office of the National Security Council.[3] the Office of the National Security Council has an administration system under the Office of the Prime Minister but receive orders directly under the Prime Minister.[4][5]
History
The National Security Council was established by the initiative of King Rama VI, whose purpose was to have a military mission to defend the country. Therefore, a council was formed on 11 December 1910, with the King as the chairman and the Chief-of-Staff of the Royal Thai Army as the Secretary-General of the council.
On 27 July 1927, there was an amendment to the composition and authority and a new name: “the National Defense Council” until 14 July 1932, after the Siamese revolution of 1932, the National Defense Council was dissolved.
Later on 11 January 1944 during World War II, "the War Council" was established by issuing the War Council Act, which was the first Act regarding the National Security Council. Still, it was canceled because "the National Defense Council" was established instead by issuing the National Defense Council Act on 10 September 1944.
On 31 January 1956, a new National Defense Council Act was issued, repealing the old Act and remaining in use until the repeal of the National Defense Council Act, 1956, and the promulgation of the National Security Council Act, B.E. 1959 marks a change from the "National Defense Council" has been the "National Security Council (NSC)" until today.[6]
The NSC has created the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) to serve as an internal think tank tasked with spreading security expertise and advancing research on security policies.[8][9]
Under Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, NSC has been used as the main agency in dealing with COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand, with the establishment of the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) Operations Center, with the NSC secretary-general as director to integrate all agencies in the country to deal with COVID-19.[10] This situation causes Health security to be classified as one of the security that the National Security Council gives importance to as national security. During Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 which resulted in an energy and food crisis in Thailand, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has used NSC as the main agency in preparing plans to deal with energy and food crises in the short, medium, and long term.[11]
Membership
According to the provisions under the National Security Council Act B.E. 2559 (2016), Section 6 stipulates the establishment of the National Security Council, which consists of 11 ex officio members as follows
Structure of the Thai National Security Council[12]
Secretary-General of the National Security Council
Additional participants
Minister, Government officials, and/or experts deemed appropriate to invite to give opinions and vote at the meeting
In each meeting of the National Security Council, ministers, heads of government agencies, and/or experts, other than the council members, may be invited to participate on a temporary basis as ad hoc members. This applies if there are matters under consideration for which their opinions and votes are deemed appropriate for the meeting.
Secretariat
NSC meeting under Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at NSC Office in 2009Secretary-General Thawil Pliensri (left) exchange the security situation with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (center) at Thai-Khu-Fah Building, Government House in 2009Secretary-General Thaweep Netniyom with Deputy Defense Secretary Robert O. Work at The Pentagon in 2017Secretary-General Natthaphon Narkphanit (right) met with U.S. Ambassador to UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield at NSC Office in 2021
The Office of the National Security Council (NSC Office) plays a vital role in Thailand's security efforts. It provides administrative support to the National Security Council and is responsible for crafting policies and action plans to address various threats to the nation's interests. This includes monitoring security assessments, analyzing strategic security changes, identifying threats, and evaluating national power in both domestic and international security contexts.[13]
The Secretary-General of the National Security Council is the highest executive of the Office of the National Security Council.[15] Secretary-General of the National Security Council often serves as the counterpart of National Security Advisor of the United States.[16]
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