The Minister of Defence () is the senior minister at the Ministry of Defence () in the Estonian Government. The minister is one of the most important members of the Estonian government, with responsibility for coordinating the governments policies on national defence and the military forces. The defence minister is chosen by the prime minister as a part of the government.
When the position was originally established in 1918, it was called the minister of war (Sõjaminister). The post was renamed minister of defence on April 1, 1929, but would change back to minister of war in 1937. Though the name of the position, and subsequently the ministry, was changed, the main responsibilities of the position remained virtually same.
Since Estonia regained its independence in 1991 the post has been known as the minister of defence.
List of ministers 1918 to 1929 (Minister of War) Name Took office Left office PartyAndres LarkaFebruary 24, 1918November 27, 1918IndependentKonstantin PätsNovember 27, 1918May 8, 1919Rural LeagueOtto StrandmanMay 8, 1919November 18, 1919Estonian Labour PartyAugust Johannes HankoNovember 18, 1919July 28, 1920IndependentAleksander TõnissonJuly 28, 1920October 26, 1920Ants PiipOctober 26, 1920January 25, 1921Estonian Labour PartyJaan SootsJanuary 25, 1921August 2, 1923Farmers' AssembliesAdo AnderkoppAugust 2, 1923February 19, 1924Estonian Labour PartyOskar AmbergMarch 26, 1924October 18, 1924Christian People's PartyHans KurvitsNovember 11, 1924November 26, 1924IndependentJaan Soots (2nd time)December 16, 1924March 4, 1927Farmers' AssembliesNikolai ReekMarch 4, 1927December 4, 1928IndependentMihkel JuhkamDecember 4, 1928March 31, 1929Estonian Labour Party
1929 to 1937 (Minister of Defence) Name Took office Left office PartyMihkel JuhkamApril 1, 1929July 9, 1929Estonian Labour PartyOskar KösterJuly 9, 1929February 12, 1931Settlers' PartyAugust KeremFebruary 12, 1931November 19, 1932Estonian People's PartyAleksander Tõnisson (2nd time)November 1, 1932May 18, 1933IndependentAugust Kerem (2nd time)May 18, 1933October 21, 1933Estonian People's PartyPaul LillOctober 21, 1933March 31, 1937Independent
1937 to 1940 (Minister of War) Name Took office Left officePaul LillApril 1, 1937October 12, 1939Nikolai Reek (2nd time)October 12, 1939June 21, 1940
1992 to present (Minister of Defence) Name Took office Left office PartyÜlo UluotsJune 18, 1992October 21, 1992Popular Front of EstoniaHain RebasOctober 21, 1992August 5, 1993Estonian National Independence PartyJüri LuikAugust 23, 1993November 8, 1994 Pro Patria National Coalition PartyIndrek KannikJanuary 7, 1994May 23, 1994Enn TuppJune 28, 1994April 17, 1995Andrus ÖövelApril 17, 1995March 25, 1999Estonian Coalition PartyJüri Luik (2nd time)March 25, 1999January 28, 2002Pro Patria UnionSven MikserJanuary 28, 2002April 10, 2003 Estonian Centre PartyMargus HansonApril 10, 2003November 22, 2004Jaak JõerüütNovember 22, 2004October 8, 2005Jürgen LigiOctober 10, 2005April 5, 2007Jaak AaviksooApril 5, 2007April 6, 2011Union of Pro Patria and Res PublicaMart LaarApril 6, 2011May 11, 2012Urmas ReinsaluMay 14, 2012March 26, 2014Sven Mikser (2nd time)March 26, 2014September 14, 2015Social Democratic PartyHannes HansoSeptember 14, 2015November 23, 2016Margus TsahknaNovember 23, 2016June 12, 2017Union of Pro Patria and Res PublicaJüri Luik (3rd time)June 12, 2017January 26, 2021Kalle LaanetJanuary 26, 2021July 18, 2022Estonian Reform PartyHanno PevkurJuly 18, 2022September 16, 2026Martin HeremSeptember 16, 2026IncumbentIndependent
References
Sources https://kaitseministeerium.ee/et/ministeerium-kontaktid/kaitseminister/eesti-kaitseministrid-labi-ajaloo
External links Republic of Estonia Governments Ministry of Defence Estonian Defence Forces