News

The President of Uzbekistan held an expanded meeting of the Security Council, outlining priorities for the modernization of the army and defense system.

On January 13, under the chairmanship of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Shavkat Mirziyoyev, an expanded meeting of the Security Council was held, dedicated to issues of strengthening military security and the country’s defense capability.

The event was attended by members of the Security Council, representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers, heads of ministries and agencies included in the Armed Forces, commanders of military districts, heads of military-administrative sectors, as well as representatives of public organizations.

In recent years, large-scale work to strengthen defense capability has been carried out in Uzbekistan. The National Army is being equipped with modern weapons and equipment, the combat and moral-psychological training level of servicemen is being improved, and the potential of the defense industry is being strengthened. In the troops of the Ministry of Defense, new tactical techniques have been introduced, the number and intensity of exercises have been increased by 1.5 times, unmanned aerial vehicle units and specialist training centers have been established.

Active digitalization of the army has increased the effectiveness of command and control, information security, and service delivery.

At the initiative of the President, the military education system has been fundamentally updated: the University of Military Security and Defense has been established, staffed with highly qualified professors, teachers, and instructors.

Advanced digital technologies, including artificial intelligence–based tools, as well as modern knowledge assessment systems, have been integrated into the educational process, which has significantly improved the quality of military personnel training.

The meeting discussed priority tasks to ensure national security and the further strengthening of the country’s defense capability. The President emphasized that the nature of modern armed conflicts has changed radically.

Modern wars are conducted using artificial intelligence, digital command and control, long-range precision strike weapons, cyber and robotic technologies, as well as political and economic pressure. He noted that peace and stability remain the most valuable resource, and that every sector must shift to a proactive mode of operation, responding in advance to potential risks and threats.

Among the key priorities, the President identified the improvement of the military personnel training system. Modernization of military education is the foundation for shaping a new image of the army. Compulsory military service will be organized not only as a stage of physical and military training, but also as an opportunity to acquire professional skills.

The creation of professional training programs lasting 3–6 months is envisaged, upon completion of which servicemen will take a qualification exam and receive a professional certificate.

Each year, around five thousand conscripts will be able to participate in the “One Million Programmers” and “Five Million Leaders in Artificial Intelligence” programs.

Servicemen will be given the opportunity to take university entrance examinations directly in their military units, and upon successful testing, will be able to continue their studies after completing service. For young people returning from the army, compensation is предусмотрено for training in foreign languages and specialized subjects, interest-free educational loans, as well as employment benefits and support for entrepreneurial initiatives.

Special attention was paid to the training of specialists in the engineering and technical fields, cybersecurity, and countering information threats.

For this purpose, the military-scientific base and military technoparks will be strengthened. An important element of servicemen’s upbringing will be spiritual development: all military units will be provided with fiction literature totaling one million copies, and reading competitions with prizes from the Supreme Commander-in-Chief will be organized among servicemen and cadets.

The President also instructed to develop sports programs, including esports and disciplines using unmanned and robotic systems. The need to equip the troops with modern robotic complexes, AI-based unmanned systems, light military equipment, reconnaissance assets, and modern weapons was emphasized.

Among the priorities remain the development of the defense industry, the introduction of digital technologies and artificial intelligence at defense industry enterprises, ensuring cybersecurity and the resilience of the national digital infrastructure, as well as the construction and renovation of defense facilities.

The President announced measures for the social support of servicemen: starting from April 1, the length-of-service allowance for officers of the Ministry of Defense will be doubled, the monthly pay of contract servicemen will increase by 10 percent, and the salaries of civilian personnel of territorial administrations and departments for territorial defense will increase by 20 percent in the current year and by 50 percent next year. For servicemen with more than 30 years of service, the monthly pay taken into account for pension calculation will be increased from 75 to 100 percent.

The expansion of housing construction for servicemen continues, and a draft law on pension provision for servicemen is being prepared.

Taking into account changes in the nature of modern threats, the President noted the need to revise the Defense Doctrine, adopted eight years ago, and the National Security Concept of 1997. The new doctrine will focus on maintaining the status of non-alignment with military blocs, developing multilateral diplomacy, introducing high technologies, ensuring military self-sufficiency, and regional stability.

The meeting concluded with congratulations to servicemen, veterans, their family members, and loved ones on the 34th anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Defenders of the Motherland Day.

The President noted that courage, loyalty to the oath, and selflessness in the defense of the Motherland serve as an example for the entire nation, wishing the country peace, stability, and harmony. Reports by the Minister of Defense, district commanders, and other responsible officials were heard.