The defence minister of the Republic of Latvia (Latvian: Latvijas Republikas aizsardzības ministrs) is the head of the Ministry of Defence, who is charged with the political leadership of the Latvian National Armed Forces. The position was re-established in November 1991 following the declaration on the restoration of the country's independence from the USSR.

Standard of the minister of defence of Latvia

Since 15 September 2023, the position has been held by Andris Sprūds.

From 1918 to 1922 the officeholder's title was Minister of Protection (Apsardzības ministrs), and from 1922 to 1940 — Minister of War (Kaŗa ministrs).

List of ministers (since 1991)

More information Name, Portrait ...
Name Portrait Term of office Political party Prime Minister
Tālavs Jundzis 19 November 1991 3 August 1993 Popular Front of Latvia Ivars Godmanis
Valdis Pavlovskis 3 August 1993 19 September 1994 Latvian Way Valdis Birkavs
Jānis Arveds Trapāns 19 September 1994 23 May 1995 Independent Māris Gailis
Andrejs Krastiņš 21 December 1995 12 May 1997 LNNK Andris Šķēle
Tālavs Jundzis 6 June 1997 27 October 1998 KDS
Guntars Krasts
Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis 26 November 1998 9 March 2004 TB/LNNK Vilis Krištopans
Andris Šķēle
Andris Bērziņš
Einars Repše
Atis Slakteris 9 March 2004 2 December 2004 People's Party Indulis Emsis
Einars Repše 2 December 2004 23 December 2005 New Era Party Aigars Kalvītis
Linda Mūrniece 5 January 2006 7 April 2006 New Era Party
Atis Slakteris 8 April 2006 20 December 2007 People's Party
Vinets Veldre 20 December 2007 12 March 2009 People's Party Ivars Godmanis
Imants Lieģis 12 March 2009 3 November 2010 Civic Union Valdis Dombrovskis
Artis Pabriks 3 November 2010 22 January 2014 Unity
Raimonds Vējonis 22 January 2014 7 July 2015 Union of Greens and Farmers Laimdota Straujuma
Raimonds Bergmanis 8 July 2015 23 January 2019 Union of Greens and Farmers Laimdota Straujuma
Māris Kučinskis
Artis Pabriks 23 January 2019 14 December 2022 Development/For! Krišjānis Kariņš
Ināra Mūrniece 14 December 2022 15 September 2023 National Alliance Krišjānis Kariņš
Andris Sprūds 15 September 2023 Incumbent The Progressives Evika Siliņa
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See also

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