| Agency Name: | Ministry of Defence |
| Type: | Ministry |
| Nativename A: | Thai: กระทรวงกลาโหม |
| Seal: | Emblem of the Ministry of Defence of Thailand.svg |
| Jurisdiction: | Government of Thailand |
| Headquarters: | Ministry of Defence HQ, , Bangkok |
| Coordinates: | 13.7517°N 100.4942°W |
| Budget: | 233,300 million baht (FY2020) |
| Minister1 Name: | Sutin Klungsang |
| Chief1 Name: | Gen.Sanitchanok Sangkhachan |
The Ministry of Defence (Abrv: MOD; Thai: กระทรวงกลาโหม,), 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.[1]
Although the King of Thailand is the Head of the Royal 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.
See main article: Chatusadom. 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).[2]
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]
| Organisation | FY2018 | FY2019 | FY2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office of the Permanent Secretary | 9,250 | 10,063 | 10,300 | |
| Headquarters | 16,802 | 17,352 | 17,900 | |
| Defence Technology Organization | 1,227 | 1,240 | 1,300 | |
| Army | 107,457 | 111,377 | 113,700 | |
| Navy | 43,835 | 45,485 | 47,300 | |
| Air Force | 39,931 | 41,609 | 42,900 | |
| Totals | 218,503 | 227,127 | 233,300 |
The military augments its budgets through its ownership of golf courses, racetracks, boxing stadia, and radio and television stations.[6] [7]
See main article: List of defence ministers of Thailand.