Introduction

A defence minister or minister of defence is a cabinet official position in charge of a ministry of defence, which regulates the armed forces in sovereign states.

Background

The role of a defence minister varies considerably from country to country; in some the minister is only in charge of general budget matters and procurement of equipment; while in others the minister is also an integral part of the operational military chain of command.

A defence minister could be titled:

• Minister for Defence;
• Minister of National Defence;
• Secretary of Defence;
• Secretary of State for Defence;
• Minister of War; or
• Some similar variation.