The Ministry of Defence (, MINDEF) is the government ministry responsible for safeguarding national security on land, sea and air. It exercises command over the Peruvian Armed Forces composed of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. , the current defence minister is Walter Astudillo.

History

In 1821, José de San Martín created three ministries of the Protectorate of Peru: those of Finance (Hacienda), War and Navy (Guerra y Marina) and Foreign Affairs (Relaciones Exteriores). They were again reestablished in 1844 after a series of changes in government. On October 13, 1920, during the second government of President Augusto B. Leguía, the Ministry of War and Navy was separated into two ministries through law N° 4003. The Navy Aviator Corps was created the same year as part of the Peruvian Navy, with the Navy ministry being reorganised as the Ministry of Navy and Aviation, combining both military entities until 1941, when the Ministry of Aviation (also known as the "Ministry of Aeronautics" ) was created. The Ministry of Defence was created by Law No. 24654 on 1 April 1987, during the government of President Alan García. It absorbed the aforementioned Ministries of War, Navy and Aeronautics as well as the Joint Command of the Armed Forces and the National Defence Secretariat.

Organization

The government agency under his command is organized as follows: