Ministry of National Defence (Lithuania)
Government ministry of Lithuania
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania (Lithuanian: Lietuvos Respublikos krašto apsaugos ministerija) is the government institution of Lithuania responsible for the organization of national defence.[4] It was originally established in 1918 upon the independence of Lithuania and reestablished following the end of Soviet rule in 1991.
01121 Vilnius
€2.187 billion (2024)[3]| Krašto apsaugos ministerija (Lithuanian) | |
| |
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| Ministry overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 11 November 1918[1][2] |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Lithuania |
| Headquarters | Totorių 25, Senamiestis, 01121 Vilnius |
| Annual budget | €2.187 billion (2024)[3] |
| Minister responsible | |
| Website | kam.lt |
| Map | |
| 54°40′58.3″N 25°16′58.1″E | |
History
The first cabinet ministers of the Republic of Lithuania were appointed on 11 November 1918, and the position of defence minister was initially assumed by prime minister Augustinas Voldemaras.[1] The situation in Lithuania was tense after World War I. The first decree concerning national defence was issued on 23 November 1918, which is officially considered the day of the formation of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.[2] On 24 December 1918, lieutenant general Mykolas Velykis became the defence minister but served for just two days; he was replaced by Jonas Vileišis. The country began mobilizing its population as soon as the defence ministry was formed, as it had to defend its sovereignty in the Lithuanian Wars of Independence (1918–1920).[2]
Following the end of Soviet rule and the restoration of Lithuania's independence on 11 March 1990, the Lithuanian defence ministry was reestablished on 25 April 1990.[5] The ministry celebrates 25 April annually with public ceremonies in Kaunas and Vilnius.[6]
Departments and services
- Second Operational Services Department
- General Affairs Department of the Ministry of National Defence
- Centralized Finance and Property Service of the Ministry of National Defence
- General Jonas Žemaitis Lithuanian Military Academy
- Defence Resources Agency of the Ministry of National Defence
- Information Technology Service of the Ministry of National Defence
- Infrastructure Management Agency
- Key State Telecommunications Centre
- Mobilization and Civil Resistance Department of the Ministry of National Defence
- National Cyber Security Centre
- National Coordination Centre
- Vytautas the Great War Museum
- General Povilas Plechavičius Cadet Lyceum
Defence Materiel Agency
The Defence Materiel Agency (Lithuanian: Gynybos Resursų Agentūra) is an institution under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of National Defence, and it is responsible for defence procurement and strategies.[8][9]
As of 2023, about 100 people work for the Defence Materiel Agency.[10]
In 2022, the Lithuanian Ministry of Economy and Innovation awarded the Defence Materiel Agency for "high standards in its public procurement practices".[11][12]
Leadership of the ministry
The leadership of the Ministry of National Defence (KAM) consists of the acting Minister of National Defence, Vladislav Kondratovič, Vice Ministers Karolis Aleksa, Tomas Godliauskas, and Orijana Mašalė, Chancellor of the Ministry Dainius Ivoškis, and the Director of Defence Policy Vaidotas Urbelis. Together, they oversee the operations, policies, and strategic direction of Lithuania's defence and security efforts.
Ministers
| Minister of National Defence | |
|---|---|
| Krašto apsaugos ministras | |
 Flag of the Minister | |
| Ministry of National Defence of Lithuania | |
| Style | Mr. Minister The Honorable |
| Type | Executive branch |
| Member of | Cabinet |
| Reports to | President of Lithuania Prime Minister of Lithuania |
| Seat | Seimas |
| Nominator | Prime Minister of Lithuania |
| Appointer | President of Lithuania |
| Term length | four years, renewable |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Lithuania |
| Inaugural holder | Augustinas Voldemaras |
| Formation | 11 November 1918 |
| First holder | Audrius Butkevičius |
| Deputy | Vice Minister of National Defence |
| Website | https://kam.lt/ |
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The Minister of National Defence (Lithuanian: Krašto apsaugos ministras) is a member of the executive branch of the Government of Lithuania. The minister is responsible for overseeing the country's defence policies, military readiness, and national security strategies. The Minister leads the ministry in ensuring the protection of Lithuania's sovereignty, coordinating defence cooperation with international allies, and managing the country's defence resources and forces. The role also involves shaping defence-related legislation and fostering strategic initiatives to address evolving security challenges. The acting incumbent is Vladislav Kondratovič, who has been serving as in that capicity since 22 October 2025.
| Term | Minister | Party | Cabinet | Office | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start date | End date | Time in office | ||||
| 1 | Audrius Butkevičius (born 1960) |
Independent | Vagnorius | 13 January 1991 | 21 July 1992 | 1 year, 190 days |
| 2 | Audrius Butkevičius (born 1960) |
Independent | Abišala | 21 July 1992 | 17 December 1992 | 149 days |
| 3 | Audrius Butkevičius (born 1960) |
Independent | Lubys | 17 December 1992 | 31 March 1993 | 104 days |
| 4 | Audrius Butkevičius (born 1960) |
Independent | Šleževičius | 31 March 1993 | 28 October 1993 | 211 days |
| 5 | Linas Antanas Linkevičius (born 1961) |
Democratic Labour Party | 28 October 1993 | 19 March 1996 | 2 years, 143 days | |
| 6 | Linas Antanas Linkevičius (born 1961) |
Democratic Labour Party | Stankevičius | 19 March 1996 | 10 December 1996 | 266 days |
| 7 | Česlovas Vytautas Stankevičius (born 1937) |
Homeland Union | Vagnorius | 10 December 1996 | 10 June 1999 | 2 years, 182 days |
| 8 | Česlovas Vytautas Stankevičius (born 1937) |
Homeland Union | Paksas | 10 June 1999 | 11 November 1999 | 154 days |
| 9 | Česlovas Vytautas Stankevičius (born 1937) |
Homeland Union | Kubilius | 11 November 1999 | 9 November 2000 | 364 days |
| 10 | Linas Antanas Linkevičius (born 1961) |
Social Democratic Party | Paksas | 9 November 2000 | 12 July 2001 | 245 days |
| 11 | Linas Antanas Linkevičius (born 1961) |
Social Democratic Party | Brazauskas | 12 July 2001 | 14 December 2004 | 3 years, 155 days |
| 12 | Gediminas Kirkilas (1951–2024) |
Social Democratic Party | Brazauskas | 14 December 2004 | 18 July 2006 | 1 year, 216 days |
| 13 | Juozas Olekas (born 1955) |
Social Democratic Party | Kirkilas | 18 July 2006 | 9 December 2008 | 2 years, 144 days |
| 14 | Rasa Juknevičienė (born 1958) |
Homeland Union | Kubilius | 9 December 2008 | 13 December 2012 | 4 years, 4 days |
| 15 | Juozas Olekas (born 1955) |
Social Democratic Party | Butkevičius | 13 December 2012 | 13 December 2016 | 4 years, 0 days |
| 16 | Raimundas Karoblis (born 1968) |
Independent | Skvernelis | 13 December 2016 | 11 December 2020 | 3 years, 364 days |
| 17 | Arvydas Anušauskas (born 1963) |
Homeland Union | Šimonytė | 11 December 2020 | 13 March 2024 | 3 years, 93 days |
| 18 | Laurynas Kasčiūnas (born 1982) |
Homeland Union | Šimonytė | 13 March 2024 | 13 December 2024 | 273 days |
| 19 | Dovilė Šakalienė (born 1978) |
Social Democratic Party of Lithuania | Paluckas | 13 December 2024 | 22 October 2025 | 313 days |