Ministry of National Defence (Lithuania)

The Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania is the government institution of Lithuania responsible for the organization of national defence. It was originally established in 1918 upon the independence of Lithuania and reestablished following the end of Soviet rule in 1991.

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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. 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. 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.
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.

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 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 for 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".

Leadership of the ministry

The leadership of the Ministry of National Defence 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

The Minister of National Defence 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.