diff --git a/modules/API/API.js b/modules/API/API.js
index 0bef981e5..1535bee74 100644
--- a/modules/API/API.js
+++ b/modules/API/API.js
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import {
 import { updateSettings } from '../../react/features/base/settings';
 import { isToggleCameraEnabled, toggleCamera } from '../../react/features/base/tracks';
 import {
+    sendMessage,
     setPrivateMessageRecipient,
     toggleChat
 } from '../../react/features/chat/actions';
@@ -241,6 +242,24 @@ function initCommands() {
             sendAnalytics(createApiEvent('avatar.url.changed'));
             APP.conference.changeLocalAvatarUrl(avatarUrl);
         },
+        'send-chat-message': (message, to, ignorePrivacy = false) => {
+            logger.debug('Send chat message command received');
+            if (to) {
+                const participant = getParticipantById(APP.store.getState(), to);
+
+                if (participant) {
+                    APP.store.dispatch(setPrivateMessageRecipient(participant));
+                } else {
+                    logger.error(`Participant with id ${to} not found!`);
+
+                    return;
+                }
+            } else {
+                APP.store.dispatch(setPrivateMessageRecipient());
+            }
+
+            APP.store.dispatch(sendMessage(message, ignorePrivacy));
+        },
         'send-endpoint-text-message': (to, text) => {
             logger.debug('Send endpoint message command received');
             try {
diff --git a/modules/API/external/external_api.js b/modules/API/external/external_api.js
index 8152485c8..309972b01 100644
--- a/modules/API/external/external_api.js
+++ b/modules/API/external/external_api.js
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ const commands = {
     password: 'password',
     pinParticipant: 'pin-participant',
     resizeLargeVideo: 'resize-large-video',
+    sendChatMessage: 'send-chat-message',
     sendEndpointTextMessage: 'send-endpoint-text-message',
     sendTones: 'send-tones',
     setLargeVideoParticipant: 'set-large-video-participant',