Ministry of National Defence (Lithuania)

The Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania (Lithuanian: Lietuvos Respublikos krašto apsaugos ministerija) is government institution in Lithuania responsible for the organization of national defence.[4]

Ministry of National Defence
Krašto apsaugos ministerija
(in Lithuanian)
Ministry overview
Formed11 November 1918; 106 years ago (1918-11-11)[1][2]
JurisdictionGovernment of Lithuania
HeadquartersTotorių 25, Senamiestis,
01121 Vilnius
Annual budget€1.028 billion (2021)[3]
Minister responsible
Websitekam.lt
Map
54°40′58.3″N 25°16′58.1″E / 54.682861°N 25.282806°E / 54.682861; 25.282806

History

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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.[1] 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.[2] 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.[2]

Defence Materiel Agency

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Defence Materiel Agency headquarters in Vilnius[5]

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.[6][7]

As of 2023, about 100 people work at the Defence Materiel Agency.[8]

In 2022, the Lithuanian Ministry of Economy and Innovation awarded the Defence Materiel Agency for high standards in its public procurement practices.[9][10]

Ministers

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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 Incumbent 3 years, 346 days

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Lithuanian budget for 2021
  4. ^ "Functions of National Defence Ministry". Lithuanian Ministry of Defense. Retrieved 2010-04-25.
  5. ^ "Trys krašto apsaugos sistemos įstaigos persikėlė į naujas patalpas". lrt.lt (in Lithuanian). 2022-07-26. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  6. ^ Skėrytė, Jūratė (2023-11-22). "Lithuania's defence system to have drone capabilities in 2024 – committee chair". lrt.lt. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  7. ^ Andrašiūtė, Skirmantė (2023-05-05). "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 December 13, 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  8. ^ "Gynybos resursų agentūra prie Krašto apsaugos ministerijos". Rekvizitai.lt (in Lithuanian). 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  9. ^ Satkauskaitė, Miglė (2022-11-29). "Gynybos resursų agentūra įvertinta už efektyvius viešuosius pirkimus". LR Krašto apsaugos ministerija (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  10. ^ "Gynybos resursų agentūra įvertinta už efektyvius viešuosius pirkimus". INFOLEX.LT (in Lithuanian). 2022-11-29. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
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