Minister (diplomacy)

A Minister is a true diplomat (not merely consular) accredited by one sovereign state to another who ranks below an ambassador.

The Vienna Conventions (since 1815) created formal ranks.

A Minister Plenipotentiary (usually just referred to as a Minister) is a diplomatic representative with plenipotentiary powers (i.e. full authority to represent the ruler of his state), but ranking below an ambassador. At one time (until well into the 20th century), full ambassadors were only sent by powerful states to other powerful states and most diplomatic representatives to and from less powerful states were Ministers Plenipotentiary.

A Minister Resident is the, now extremely rare, lowest rank of full legation chief, only above Chargé d'affaires (who is considered an extraodinary substitute)

• As most legations are now embassies, reflecting the United Nations doctrine of equality of sovereign states, contemporary diplomatic Ministers usually act as embassy section chiefs.

See also

• Political minister
• Religious minister
• other, colonial type of Resident, such as British Residents