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A defence minister (or defense minister, see spelling differences) is a cabinet portfolio (position) which regulates the armed forces in a sovereign nation. The minister or secretary of defence is usually a very important role in a cabinet. When cabinets first started appearing in the late 18th century, they were often called "Ministers of War" (U.S., "Secretary of War"), who were in charge of the land forces of a nation. Since the end of World War II, the change was made from war to defence, and also often involved putting the defence minister in charge of both land and sea warfare. Another common reform which occurred at the end of World War II was to place the defence minister in a National Security Council or inner cabinet which allows the head of government to coordinate both military and diplomatic activities.
The Defence Ministry in some countries is a very important ministry, sometimes considered more important than the foreign minister (U.S., secretary of state). It is often assumed by the Prime Minister if war is common for that nation (for example, no less than five Prime Ministers of Israel have held the Defence Ministry during their Premiership). In many nations, it is the very strong convention that the defence minister be a civilian to highlight civilian control over the military. In less democratic countries, the minister is often a uniformed army official.
In the United States, the defence minister has been called the Secretary of Defense since 1947, when the once separate War Department and the Department of the Navy were merged (though the Secretary of the Navy exists to this day, it is no longer a Cabinet level position, being subordinate to the Secretary of Defense). In the United States, military orders typically go from the President of the United States through the Secretary.
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Albania - Ministry of Defence.
Meta Description: [ Republika e Shqiperise. Ministria e Mbrojtjes. Faqja Zyrtare ]
Australia - Department of Defence.
Meta Description: [ This is the main home page for the Australian Government Department of Defence. This page is a good place to start should you wish to find information relating to the Defence of Australia and its national interests ]
Belgium - Defence.
Bulgaria - Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria.
Canada - Department of National Defence and Canadian Forces (DND/CF), also known as the Ministère de la défense nationale et les Forces canadiennes (MDN/FC).
Meta Description: [ www.forces.gc.ca is the official Web site of the Department of National Defence and Canadian Forces. It is the best source of current and historical Canadian military information., www.forces.gc.ca est le site Web officiel du ministère de la Défense nationale et des Forces canadiennes. Il s'agi... ]
Denmark - Ministry of Defence.
Egypt - Egyptian Armed Forces.
Estonia - Estonian Defence Forces.
Finland - Ministry of Defence.
France - Ministère de la Défense.
Germany - Federal Ministry of Defence, properly called the Bundesministerium der Verteidigung.
Greece - Hellenic Ministry of Defence.
Hungary - Hungarian Ministry of Defence, also known as the Honvédelmi Minisztérium.
Ireland - Department of Defence.
Italy - Ministry of Defence, also known as the Ministero della Difesa.
Kazakhstan - The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan, with information on Kazakhstan's most senior officers.
Latvia - Ministry of Defence.
Meta Description: [ Latvijas Republikas Aizsardzоbas ministrija - izstrвdв un realizз valsts aizsardzоbas politiku, koordinз ministrijas pakпautоbв un pвrziтв esoрo institыciju darbоbu, lai nodroрinвtu valsts militвro aizsardzоbu, оsteno Latvijas Nacionвlo bruтoto spзku pвrraudzоbu un plвno... ]
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Lesotho - Ministry of Defence.
Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence.
Meta Description: [ Lietuvos Respublikos Krašto apsaugos ministerija ]
Netherlands - Ministry of Defence of The Netherlands, also known as the Ministerie van Defensie.
New Zealand - Ministry of Defence New Zealand (Manatu Kaupapa Waonga).
Meta Description: [ Entry point and home page for the Ministry of Defence New Zealand website ]
Norway - Ministry of Defence.
Meta Description: [ The Ministry of Defence is a Government Office with responsibility for the formation and implementation of Norwegian security and defence policy. ]
Papua New Guinea - Department of Defence.
Poland - Ministry of Defence.
Meta Description: [ Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej - MON: Wojsko Polskie, obrona narodowa, si³y zbrojne, ¿o³nierze, armia ]
Romania - Ministry of National Defense.
Slovakia - Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic.
Slovenia - Ministry of Defense.
South Africa - Department of Defence.
Switzerland - Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports.
Meta Description: [ Homepage des Eidg. Departements für Verteidigung, Bevölkerungsschutz und Sport (VBS). Informationen über die Schweizer Armee. ]
United Kingdom - Ministry of Defence.
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