Samuha Kalahom
| กระทรวงกลาโหม | |
Emblem of the Ministry of Defence
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 Ministry of Defense building, opposite Temple of the Emerald Buddha |
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| Ministry overview | |
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| Formed | 8 April 1887 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Thailand |
| Headquarters | Phra Nakhon, Bangkok |
| Annual budget | |
| Ministers responsible |
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| Ministry executive |
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| Website | MOD.go.th |
The Ministry of Defence (Thai: กระทรวงกลาโหม; rtgs: Krasuang Kalahom; Abrv: MOD), 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 composed of three branches: the Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy, and Royal Thai Air Force.
Although the king of Thailand is the supreme head of the 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. The post of Minister of Defence has been held by General Prawit Wongsuwon, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, since August 2014.
Initially the Ministry was called "Samuha Kalahom" (Thai: สมุหกลาโหม) or Kalahom Department, and was charged with the protection the southern border. It was founded in the late Ayutthaya period and was retained in the Rattanakosin period. The ministry in its current form 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 built to house it. At first the ministry only commanded the army (founded in 1847), it then incorporated the navy (founded in 1887), and finally the air force (founded in 1913). 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.
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