The Minister of Defence is a senior member of the Italian Cabinet who leads the Ministry of Defence. The minister is responsible for military and civil defence matters and managing the Italian Armed Forces.

The Italian Minister of the Navy was a member of the Council Ministers from 1861 until 1947. Under the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 to 1946, the minister oversaw the Regia Marina, and his position was known officially as Ministri della marina del Regno d'Italia, while under the Italian Republic from 1946 to 1947 he oversaw the Marina Militare and was known officially as Ministro per la Marina Militare, the name change becoming official on 13 July 1946. The position was abolished when the Ministry of the Navy merged with the Ministry of Aeronautics and Ministry of War to form the Ministry of Defence in 1947.