Tashkent, February 22, 2025 – The Europe Today: The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, chaired a high-level meeting focused on enhancing national military security and defense capabilities.
The meeting was attended by members of the Security Council, heads of ministries and agencies within Uzbekistan’s Armed Forces, military district commanders, and, via videoconference, the Chairpersons of the Jokargy Kenes and the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regional and Tashkent city hokims, along with other responsible local government officials.
At the outset, an assessment was conducted on the measures implemented to strengthen the country’s defense capabilities, highlighting both achievements and identified shortcomings. It was noted that Uzbekistan’s national army has undergone significant modernization, incorporating advanced weaponry and technology while improving the combat and psychological preparedness of military personnel. Based on international experiences and comprehensive analyses, new combat units have been established to address internal and external threats, accompanied by structural optimization of the armed forces.
A key focus was placed on the ongoing development of a new system for modernizing the military and acquiring advanced equipment. Uzbekistan’s defense industry continues to expand, with the establishment of additional enterprises. The country’s Armed Forces have forged bilateral military cooperation with more than 20 nations and have participated in over 400 joint exercises. Furthermore, the infrastructure of higher military academies has been fully modernized, with updated training programs aligning with contemporary standards.
The meeting also emphasized the social and legal protection of military personnel and their families. Notably, nearly 30,000 families have been provided with housing, and over 2,000 children of military personnel have received benefits for higher education admissions. Military-administrative sectors, in collaboration with state and public organizations, actively contribute to improving conditions for Uzbekistan’s defenders. Special attention is also being given to fostering patriotism among young people and enhancing pre-conscription military training in schools.
Looking ahead, priority tasks for 2025 and subsequent years were outlined. The importance of considering modern armed conflicts, national security threats, and the evolving nature of military operations was underscored. It was noted that contemporary regional conflicts extensively utilize artificial intelligence, robotic systems, missiles, drones, and counter-drone technologies. In response, directives were issued to establish new military units specializing in drone warfare, robotic equipment, air defense, and cyber defense leveraging artificial intelligence technologies.
President Mirziyoyev stressed the necessity of enhancing the army’s combat readiness, improving military training standards, and developing a unified automated command and control system based on artificial intelligence. The adoption of dual education in military training and personnel preparation was also highlighted. Additionally, priority tasks were set for advancing the activities of the Corps of Chief Sergeants, strengthening the defense industry, ensuring social support for military personnel and their families, fostering patriotism among the youth, and promoting engagement in military sports.
During the meeting, reports and proposals from the Minister of Defense, military district commanders, and other relevant officials were reviewed, setting the course for future advancements in Uzbekistan’s defense sector.
