ministercounselor

A minister-counselor is a senior diplomatic rank used by the foreign services of several countries. The term usually denotes a high-ranking career diplomat who serves as a senior adviser to the head of mission and, in many cases, as a deputy or second-in-command at an embassy or legation. Depending on the national system, the title may be an official rank, a formal appointment, or both. In standard diplomatic hierarchies, a minister-counselor typically sits above a counselor and below the ambassador or chargé d’affaires, though exact placement and duties vary by country.

Roles and duties commonly associated with the position include supervising major sections of the mission (such as political, economic, or public diplomacy), coordinating policy analysis and reporting, and representing the mission at official events. The minister-counselor may act as the mission’s senior liaison with the host government and may stand in for the ambassador when the head of mission is unavailable. In some countries, the role also encompasses leadership of specific administrative or regional portfolios.

History and variations: The title originated in the era of legations, where heads of mission included ambassadors and ministers. As diplomatic practices evolved and many legations became embassies, the term persisted in some services as a senior staff rank or appointment. Spelling and usage vary by language and country, with some places using “minister-counsellor” and others “minister-counselor.”

See also: Diplomatic rank, Chief of mission, Embassy, Chargé d’affaires, Counselor.