Ministry of National Defence (Lithuania)
| Krašto apsaugos ministerija (Lithuanian) | |
 | |
 | |
| 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 / 54.682861°N 25.282806°E | |
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.
History
[edit]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. The ministry celebrates 25 April annually with public ceremonies in Kaunas and Vilnius.[5]
Defence Materiel Agency
[edit]
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.[7][8]
As of 2023, about 100 people work for the Defence Materiel Agency.[9]
In 2022, the Lithuanian Ministry of Economy and Innovation awarded the Defence Materiel Agency for "high standards in its public procurement practices".[10][11]
Ministers
[edit]| 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 | Incumbent | 136 days |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Kaip gimė pirmoji Lietuvos Vyriausybė" [How the first Government of Lithuania was born]. Kauno Diena (in Lithuanian). 11 November 2017. Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ a b c "Valstybės atkūrimas ir tarpukario kariuomenė" [Restoration of the state and the interwar army]. Lithuanian Army (in Lithuanian). Archived from the original on 22 May 2023.
- ^ "XIV-2297 Lietuvos Respublikos 2024 metų valstybės biudžeto ir savivaldybių biudžetų finansinių rodiklių pa" [XIV-2297 Financial indicators of the state budget and municipal budgets of the Republic of Lithuania for 2024]. e-seimas.lrs.lt (in Lithuanian).
- ^ "Functions of National Defence Ministry". Lithuanian Ministry of Defense. Archived from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
- ^ "National Defence of Lithuania hits 35: the Ministry of National Defence celebrates with public". Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence. 24 April 2025. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
- ^ "Trys krašto apsaugos sistemos įstaigos persikėlė į naujas patalpas" [Three institutions of the national defense system have moved to new premises]. lrt.lt (in Lithuanian). 26 July 2022. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ Skėrytė, Jūratė (22 November 2023). "Lithuania's defence system to have drone capabilities in 2024 – committee chair". lrt.lt. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
- ^ Andrašiūtė, Skirmantė (5 May 2023). "Significant step forward: Lithuanian companies will be able to conduct testing together with the Lithuanian Armed Forces". LR Krašto apsaugos ministerija. Archived from the original on 13 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
- ^ "Gynybos resursų agentūra prie Krašto apsaugos ministerijos" [Defence Materiel Agency under the Ministry of National Defence]. Rekvizitai.lt (in Lithuanian). 9 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ Satkauskaitė, Miglė (29 November 2022). "Gynybos resursų agentūra įvertinta už efektyvius viešuosius pirkimus" [The Defence Materiel Agency was recognized for its efficient public procurement]. LR Krašto apsaugos ministerija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ "Gynybos resursų agentūra įvertinta už efektyvius viešuosius pirkimus" [The Defence Materiel Agency was recognized for its efficient public procurement]. INFOLEX.LT (in Lithuanian). 29 November 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
External links
[edit]| Political posts |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Ministries | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
