The Ministry of Defence (Spanish: Ministerio de Defensa, MINDEF) is the government ministry responsible for safeguarding national security on land, sea and air.

As of 13 February 2024[update], the current defence minister is Walter Astudillo [es].

In 1821, José de San Martín created three ministries of the Protectorate of Peru: those of Finance (Hacienda), War and Navy (Guerra y Marina) and Foreign Affairs (Relaciones Exteriores).

The Navy Aviator Corps (Spanish: Cuerpo de Aviadores de la Armada) was created the same year as part of the Peruvian Navy, with the Navy ministry being reorganised as the Ministry of Navy and Aviation (Spanish: Ministerio de Marina y Aviación), combining both military entities until 1941, when the Ministry of Aviation (also known as the "Ministry of Aeronautics" Spanish: Ministerio de Aviación; Ministerio de Aeronáutica)[2] was created.

It absorbed the aforementioned Ministries of War, Navy and Aeronautics as well as the Joint Command of the Armed Forces and the National Defence Secretariat.