President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said that the Defense Doctrine adopted eight years ago, as well as the 1997 National Security Concept, need to be revised. He made this statement on January 13 at an expanded meeting of the Security Council on strengthening the country’s military security and defense.
The meeting was timed to coincide with Defenders of the Motherland Day, which is celebrated in Uzbekistan on January 14.
It was noted that the new Defense Doctrine should ensure the preservation of Uzbekistan’s status of non-membership in any military blocs, reliance on multilateral diplomacy, and the country’s development toward a strategy based on high technologies, military self-sufficiency, and regional stability.
“In general, the new doctrine should serve as the basis for the technological modernization of the army and the introduction of advanced military solutions,” the president said.
The meeting also reported that new tactical methods have been introduced in the troops of the Ministry of Defense, the number and intensity of exercises have increased by 1.5 times, and unmanned aerial vehicle units and training centers for specialists have been established.
Priority tasks to ensure the country’s security and further strengthen its defense capability were discussed.
It was noted that various regional conflicts are expanding, the arms race is gaining momentum, and respect for universal values, norms of international law, and international diplomacy is weakening.
The head of state said that the nature of modern warfare has fundamentally changed. According to him, it is a mistake to believe that victory can be ensured solely by relying on the number of tanks, aircraft, or soldiers. He noted that modern combat operations are conducted using artificial intelligence, digital command systems, long-range precision strike capabilities, cyber and robotic technologies, as well as political and economic pressure.
In this context, it was emphasized that peace and stability are becoming the most valuable asset. To preserve them, it was noted, every sphere and sector must shift to a “proactive mode of operation,” meaning responding in advance to potential risks and threats.