Ministry of National Defense (Chile) facts for kids
| Ministerio de Defensa Nacional | |
Logo of the Ministry of National Defense
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Flag of the Ministry of National Defense
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 Ministry headquarters |
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| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | 1932 |
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| Type | Ministry |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Chile |
| Headquarters | Zenteno 45 (esquina Alameda Bernardo O'Higgins) Santiago |
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| Child agency |
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| Website | Official website: https://www.defensa.cl// |
The Ministry of National Defense (which in Spanish is Ministerio de Defensa Nacional) is a very important government office in Chile. Its main job is to make sure Chile stays independent and safe. It also helps the President of Chile plan and manage everything related to the country's defense. This includes overseeing all parts of the Chilean armed forces.
Contents
How the Ministry Started
The idea of a defense office in Chile goes way back to the early days when Chile was fighting to become independent. At first, there was a "Secretary of War" created on March 17, 1814. This person helped manage the army. However, this office was stopped later that year when Spanish rule returned.
Rebuilding Chile's Defense
After Chile won its independence, the defense office was brought back on October 23, 1818. This time, it included the navy too, so it was called the "Secretariat of War and Navy." Over time, the people in charge of these secretariats started being called "ministers."
In 1837, the office officially became the "Ministry of War and Navy." For a short time in 1924, the army and navy had their own separate ministries. But by 1932, they were joined together again. This new combined office was named the "Ministry of Defense." It also took over the aviation (air force) part, which used to be with the Ministry of the Interior.
Expanding Responsibilities
Over the years, the Ministry's responsibilities grew. By 1947, it was in charge of things like the main command of national defense and the armed forces' purchasing. In the 1960s, it also started overseeing councils for national security. Later, in 1976, its role expanded even more to include the national police forces.
The Ministry has changed its name a few times throughout history to reflect its evolving duties:
- Secretariat of War (1814)
- Secretariat of War and Navy (1818–1831)
- Ministry of War and Navy (1831–1924)
- Ministry of War and Ministry of Navy (1924–1932)
- Ministry of National Defense (1932–present)
How the Ministry Works
The Ministry of National Defense has a few main parts that help it do its job:
- Subsecretariat of Defense: This part is in charge of creating and managing Chile's defense plans and policies.
- National Academy of Political and Strategic Studies (ANEPE): This academy helps train people in defense and strategy.
- Subsecretariat of the Armed Forces: This part handles all the administrative tasks for the armed forces, like managing resources.
- Joint Staff Command: This group helps coordinate the different branches of the military (army, navy, air force) to work together.
Who Leads the Ministry?
The person in charge of the Ministry of National Defense is called the Minister. They are a key member of the President's team. The current Minister is Maya Fernández. Many different people have held this important position throughout Chile's history, helping to keep the country safe.
See also
- Military of Chile
- Defence Diplomacy
