The Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania is government institution in Lithuania responsible for the organization of national defence.

History

The first cabinet of ministers of the Republic of Lithuania was appointed on 11 November 1918, and the defence minister position was initially assumed by the Prime Minister Augustinas Voldemaras. The situation in Lithuania was tense after World War I. The first decree concerning the national defence was issued on 23 November 1918, which is officially considered the day of the formation of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. On 24 December 1918, lieutenant general Mykolas Velykis became the defence minister just for two days; on the 26th, he was replaced by Jonas Vileišis. As soon as Lithuania began forming its defence institutions, the country had to mobilize and fight the Lithuanian Wars of Independence.

Defence Materiel Agency

The Defence Materiel Agency is an institution under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of National Defence, and it is responsible for defence procurement and strategies. As of 2023, about 100 people work at the Defence Materiel Agency. In 2022, the Lithuanian Ministry of Economy and Innovation awarded the Defence Materiel Agency for high standards in its public procurement practices.

Ministers