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National Security Council (Thailand)

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This article is about the permanent government body. Not to be confused with the 2006 military junta, titled the Council for National Security.
National Security Council
สภาความมั่นคงแห่งชาติ
Agency overview
Formed11 December 1910; 113 years ago (1910-12-11)
JurisdictionGovernment of Thailand
HeadquartersGovernment House
1 Phitsanulok Road
Dusit, Bangkok, Thailand
Agency executives
Parent agencyOffice of the Prime Minister
Websitensc.go.th

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

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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]

One of the main responsibilities of the NSC since its inception has been to solve problems in the South Thailand insurgency, immigrant, Border control, Transnational crime and terrorism, including using the NSC to manage emergency situations such as political demonstration and disasters.[7]

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

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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]
Chairman Prime Minister
Vice-chairman Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs
Regular attendees
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

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NSC meeting under Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at NSC Office in 2009
Secretary-General Thawil Pliensri (left) exchange the security situation with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (center) at Thai-Khu-Fah Building, Government House in 2009
Secretary-General Thaweep Netniyom with Deputy Defense Secretary Robert O. Work at The Pentagon in 2017
Secretary-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 NSC office is situated within the Government House of Thailand.[14]

List of NSC Secretary-General

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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]

# Years Name
1 1959–1962 Luang Wichitwathakan
2 1962–1968 Phraya Srivisanvaja
3 1968–1973 General Jira Vichitsongkram
4 1973–1974 General Lek Naewmalee
5 1974–1980 Air Chief Marshal Siddhi Savetsila
6 1980–1986 Squadron Leader Prasong Soonsiri
7 1986–1991 Suwit Suthanukul
8 1991–1996 General Jarun Kullawanit
9 1996–1998 General Boonsak Kamhaengrit
10 1998–2002 Kachadpai Burutpas
11 2002–2006 General Vinai Pattiyakul
12 2006–2007 Prakit Prachaonpachanuk
13 2007–2008 Lieutenant General Siripong Boonpat
14 2008–2011 Lieutenant General Surapol Puenaiyaka
15 2008–2011 Thawil Pliensri
16 2011–2012 Police General Wichien Podposri
17 2012–2014 Lieutenant General Paradon Patanathabutr
15(2) 2014 Thawil Pliensri
18 2014–2015 Anusit Kunakorn
19 2015–2017 General Thaweep Netniyom
20 2017–2019 General Wallop Raksanoh
21 2019–2020 General Somsak Roongsita
22 2020–2021 General Natthaphon Narkphanit
23 2021–2023 General Supoj Malaniyom
24 2024 Police General Roy Ingkhapairoj
25 2024– Chatchai Bangchuad
# Years Name
26

References

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  1. ^ "สภาความมั่นคงแห่งชาติ".
  2. ^ "บทบาทเลขาฯ สมช".
  3. ^ "โปรดเกล้าฯ พ.ร.บ.สภาความมั่นคงแห่งชาติฉบับใหม่".
  4. ^ "สำนักงานสภาความมั่นคงแห่งชาติ".
  5. ^ "บิ๊กทหาร 4 คนใน 5 ปี...เลขาฯสมช.เก้าอี้อะไหล่กองทัพ?".
  6. ^ "พ.ร.บ.สภาความมั่นคงแห่งชาติ "วางแผนความมั่นคงประเทศตามยุทธศาสตร์ชาติ 20 ปี"".
  7. ^ "Southern Thailand: Dialogue in Doubt" (PDF).
  8. ^ "การฝึกอบรมหลักสูตรความมั่นคงศึกษา" (PDF).
  9. ^ "คำสั่งสำนักงานสภาความมั่นคงแห่งชาติ ที่ ๑๒๒/๒๕๖๓" (PDF).
  10. ^ "สมช.เตรียมชง ศบค.ผ่อนคลายมาตรการโควิด แต่ยันไม่ยกเลิก พ.ร.ก.ฉุกเฉิน".
  11. ^ ""นายกฯ" เรียกถก "สมช." 4 ก.ค. ติดตามแผนรับมือวิกฤติเศรษฐกิจ-พลังงาน".
  12. ^ องค์ประกอบและอำนาจหน้าที่
  13. ^ "สัมภาษณ์ : พิชัย รัตนพล อดีตรองเลขาธิการสภาความมั่นคงแห่งชาติ สันติวิธีกับทางออกของสถานการณ์ภาคใต้".
  14. ^ "เปิดแผนระดับชาติว่าด้วยความมั่นคง ทำไมถึงต้องเป็นประกาศพระบรมราชโองการ".
  15. ^ "NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL ACT" (PDF).
  16. ^ "Statement by NSC Spokesperson Emily Horne on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Call with Secretary General Natthaphon Narkphanit of the Thai National Security Council".
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