At the meeting of the Security Council, chaired by Shavkat Mirziyoyev, a new course for the deep modernization of Uzbekistan's defense system was outlined. The main focus will be on revising the Defense Doctrine and the National Security Concept, which will allow for the establishment of the republic's status as a non-aligned state, oriented towards diplomacy, high technologies, and independence in the military sphere.
The President noted that in the context of modern conflicts, the key role is played not by the number of troops, but by the use of artificial intelligence, robotics, and cyber technologies. Therefore, the army is transitioning to a "proactive mode," which will focus not only on responding to threats but also on preventing them. An important direction will be the protection of digital infrastructure and the safeguarding of personal data.
Military service in the country will be transformed into a social lift and a stage of professional training for youth. During their service, recruits will be able to acquire at least one civilian specialty through short-term programs. Every year, 5,000 servicemen will be trained in the fields of IT and artificial intelligence. Additionally, special conditions for obtaining higher education have been created for servicemen: entrance exams can be taken directly in the units, and demobilized students will be able to expect interest-free loans and compensation for studying foreign languages.
Former servicemen will also receive significant career advantages. For those planning to start their own business, the state will subsidize part of the loan interest rate, and when applying for civil service, candidates will be able to receive an additional 10% to their test scores. Technological leisure activities for military personnel will also become relevant: in addition to traditional kurash wrestling, competitions in esports and drone management will be organized. The intellectual development of servicemen is supported by the provision of one million books to the units, and reading competition winners will have their service term reduced by one month.
Changes will also affect social policy regarding career military personnel. Starting from April 1, allowances for officers for years of service will be doubled, and payments for contract soldiers and civilian personnel will be increased. For veterans with more than 30 years of service, pension payments will reach 100% of their monetary allowance. Thus, the modernization of the Armed Forces of Uzbekistan is aimed not only at protecting borders but also at creating a highly qualified personnel reserve that contributes to the development of the entire economy of the country.
