Sihasak Phuangketkeow
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Sihasak Phuangketkeow | |
|---|---|
สีหศักดิ์ พวงเกตุแก้ว | |
 | |
| Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand | |
| Assumed office 30 March 2026 | |
| Prime Minister | Anutin Charnvirakul |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| Assumed office 19 September 2025[1] | |
| Prime Minister | Anutin Charnvirakul[2] |
| Preceded by | Maris Sangiampongsa |
| President of the United Nations Human Rights Council | |
| In office 19 June 2010 – 18 June 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Alex Van Meeuwen |
| Succeeded by | Laura Dupuy Lasserre |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 December 1957[3] |
| Alma mater | Chulalongkorn University (BPolSci, International Relations)[3] Johns Hopkins University (MA, International Public Policy)[3] |
Sihasak Phuangketkeow (Thai: สีหศักดิ์ พวงเกตุแก้ว) is a Thai career diplomat and politician who has served as Thailand's Minister of Foreign Affairs since 19 September 2025.[4] He previously served as Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs (2023–2024), Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2011–2015), and Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Thailand to the United Nations Office in Geneva (2007–2011).[4]
Sihasak entered Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1979 and held a range of headquarters and overseas roles, including postings in Washington, D.C. and Tokyo, and senior work in the ministry's information and political affairs functions.[5][6]
From 2002 to 2006, he served as Director-General of the Department of Information and spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, followed by service as Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs (2006–2007).[4][6]
He was appointed Thailand's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations (2007–2011).[4][6] During that posting, he was elected President of the United Nations Human Rights Council (2010–2011).[6] In that capacity, Office of the OHCHR press releases document his announcement of appointments of independent experts to UN-mandated investigative mechanisms, including a fact-finding mission (July 2010) and a commission of inquiry (March 2011).[7][8]
Between 2011 and 2015, he served as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[4] Ministry reporting from 2014 described him participating in a UN Human Rights Council session as Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Acting Foreign Minister.[9]
He later served as Ambassador of Thailand to Japan (2015–2016) and Ambassador of Thailand to France (2016–2018).[4] UNESCO materials identify him as Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Thailand to UNESCO during his Paris posting.[10]
In 2023–2024, he served as Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs.[4] An MFA release described his participation in the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris in that role in May 2024.[11]
Political career
He was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs on 19 September 2025.[4] Reuters reported his selection as foreign minister in September 2025 as part of incoming cabinet appointments under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, subject to formal approval procedures.[12] As minister, Thai government public-relations reporting described his participation in the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2026.[13]
In the 2026 general election, Sihasak was selected by the Bhumjaithai Party as one of its candidates for prime minister.[14] Following Bhumjaithai's victory in the election, he was re-appointed as Foreign Minister and received an additional appointment as Deputy Prime Minister.
