Don Pramudwinai

Don Pramudwinai
ดอน ปรมัตถ์วินัย
Don at US State Department in 2017
Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand
Incumbent
Assumed office 12 August 2020
Prime Minister	Prayut Chan-o-cha
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office 23 August 2015
Prime Minister	Prayut Chan-o-cha
Preceded by	Thanasak Patimaprakorn
Personal details
Born	(1950-01-25) 25 January 1950 Bangkok, Thailand
Political party	Independent
Spouse	Narirat Pramudwinai
Alma mater	UCLA Tufts University
Profession	Diplomat politician

Don Pramudwinai (Template:Lang-th, RTGS: Don Poramatwinai, IPA: [dɔːn pɔː.rá.mát.wí.naj]; born 25 January 1950) is a Thai diplomat serving as foreign minister of Thailand (2020).

Early life and education

Don attended Wat Suthiwararam and Suankularb Wittayalai Schools. As an undergraduate he studied at the Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University (1967–1968). He received a BA in political science and an MA in international relations from UCLA. He also received an MA in international relations from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

Career

Secretary Tillerson and Thai foreign minister Don Pramudwinai, Washington

Pramudwinai and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in September 2021

Don Pramudwinai joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1974. In 1992 he was appointed director-general of the Department of East Asian Affairs. From 1994 to 1998 he was posted as Thailand's ambassador to Switzerland, Vatican City, and Liechtenstein. From 1999 to 2000 he was the Foreign Ministry spokesperson. From 2000 to 2004 he served as ambassador to China, North Korea, and Mongolia. From 2004 to 2007 he served as ambassador to the European Union. From 2007 until 2009 he served as permanent representative to the United Nations in New York. From 2009 until 2010 he served as ambassador to the United States.

In 2014 he was appointed deputy foreign minister to Foreign Minister Thanasak Patimaprakorn, and in 2015 was elevated to minister of foreign affairs. In an August 2020 Cabinet reshuffle, he was also appointed as deputy prime minister in addition to his position as minister of foreign affairs.

In 2022 Don has been instrumental in pushing for the restoration of Thai-Saudi relations, this marks the first high-level visit in three decades between the two countries.

Awards and honors

• 1998: Knight Grand Cordon of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
• 2003: Knight Grand Cordon of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant
• 2004: Knight Commander of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao