# Minister of Defence (Estonia)

The Minister of Defence (Estonian: Kaitseminister) is the senior minister at the Ministry of Defence (Estonian: Kaitseministeerium) 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 | Party |
| Andres Larka | February 24, 1918 | November 27, 1918 | Independent |
| Konstantin Päts | November 27, 1918 | May 8, 1919 | Rural League |
| Otto Strandman | May 8, 1919 | November 18, 1919 | Estonian Labour Party |
| August Johannes Hanko | November 18, 1919 | July 28, 1920 | Independent |
| Aleksander Tõnisson | July 28, 1920 | October 26, 1920 | Independent |
| Ants Piip | October 26, 1920 | January 25, 1921 | Estonian Labour Party |
| Jaan Soots | January 25, 1921 | August 2, 1923 | Farmers' Assemblies |
| Ado Anderkopp | August 2, 1923 | February 19, 1924 | Estonian Labour Party |
| Oskar Amberg | March 26, 1924 | October 18, 1924 | Christian People's Party |
| Hans Kurvits | November 11, 1924 | November 26, 1924 | Independent |
| Jaan Soots (2nd time) | December 16, 1924 | March 4, 1927 | Farmers' Assemblies |
| Nikolai Reek | March 4, 1927 | December 4, 1928 | Independent |
| Mihkel Juhkam | December 4, 1928 | March 31, 1929 | Estonian Labour Party |

### 1929 to 1937 (Minister of Defence)

| Name | Took office | Left office | Party |
| Mihkel Juhkam | April 1, 1929 | July 9, 1929 | Estonian Labour Party |
| Oskar Köster | July 9, 1929 | February 12, 1931 | Settlers' Party |
| August Kerem | February 12, 1931 | November 19, 1932 | Estonian People's Party |
| Aleksander Tõnisson (2nd time) | November 1, 1932 | May 18, 1933 | Independent |
| August Kerem (2nd time) | May 18, 1933 | October 21, 1933 | Estonian People's Party |
| Paul Lill | October 21, 1933 | March 31, 1937 | Independent |

### 1937 to 1940 (Minister of War)

| Name | Took office | Left office |
| Paul Lill | April 1, 1937 | October 12, 1939 |
| Nikolai Reek (2nd time) | October 12, 1939 | June 21, 1940 |

### 1992 to present (Minister of Defence)

| Name | Took office | Left office | Party |
| Ülo Uluots | June 18, 1992 | October 21, 1992 | Popular Front of Estonia |
| Hain Rebas | October 21, 1992 | August 5, 1993 | Estonian National Independence Party |
| Jüri Luik | August 23, 1993 | November 8, 1994 | Pro Patria National Coalition Party |
| Indrek Kannik | January 7, 1994 | May 23, 1994 | Pro Patria National Coalition Party |
| Enn Tupp | June 28, 1994 | April 17, 1995 | Pro Patria National Coalition Party |
| Andrus Öövel | April 17, 1995 | March 25, 1999 | Estonian Coalition Party |
| Jüri Luik (2nd time) | March 25, 1999 | January 28, 2002 | Pro Patria Union |
| Sven Mikser | January 28, 2002 | April 10, 2003 | Estonian Centre Party |
| Margus Hanson | April 10, 2003 | November 22, 2004 | Estonian Reform Party |
| Jaak Jõerüüt | November 22, 2004 | October 8, 2005 | Estonian Reform Party |
| Jürgen Ligi | October 10, 2005 | April 5, 2007 | Estonian Reform Party |
| Jaak Aaviksoo | April 5, 2007 | April 6, 2011 | Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica |
| Mart Laar | April 6, 2011 | May 11, 2012 | Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica |
| Urmas Reinsalu | May 14, 2012 | March 26, 2014 | Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica |
| Sven Mikser (2nd time) | March 26, 2014 | September 14, 2015 | Social Democratic Party |
| Hannes Hanso | September 14, 2015 | November 23, 2016 | Social Democratic Party |
| Margus Tsahkna | November 23, 2016 | June 12, 2017 | Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica |
| Jüri Luik (3rd time) | June 12, 2017 | January 26, 2021 | Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica |
| Kalle Laanet | January 26, 2021 | July 18, 2022 | Estonian Reform Party |
| Hanno Pevkur | July 18, 2022 | Incumbent | Estonian Reform Party |