Tokayev calls for sweeping military reform, sets 10-day deadline
Kazakhstani President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for a sweeping transformation of the Defense Ministry. The Security Council Office and the ministry have been instructed to submit a military reform plan within 10 days.
«At a recent meeting with the Security Council Office, I outlined the priorities for our military. Our army is stuck in the last century. At the same time, we must completely overhaul the command structure to bring it in line with international best practices. A comprehensive approach is required. This demands vision, and such vision can only come from competent, broad-minded officers. The goal of the reform is to build a new type of army,» Tokayev said.
The president instructed the relevant agencies to launch the military’s digital transformation and use technology instead of personnel wherever possible.
«New approaches to army development are needed. No one needs cookie-cutter solutions, ‘showcase’ exercises or glossy reports,» Tokayev said.
What the defense minister is expected to do now
- The first task is to radically improve budget spending efficiency.
«All allocated funds must yield maximum results in strengthening the nation’s defense capabilities. Misuse of funds — and certainly embezzlement — is unacceptable. No one will escape accountability for such actions,» Tokayev said.
- The second task is to reform the Armed Forces with modern threats in mind. The president proposed introducing transparent criteria for evaluating and selecting personnel.
«Appointments to command positions must be based exclusively on experience and competence rather than personal loyalty,» he said.
- The third task is to strengthen ideological and educational work among military personnel, drawing on the Constitution, military history and the achievements of both Kazakh and world culture. According to the president, the army should become a center for professional training and a source of knowledge and patriotism. At the same time, the life and safety of every service member must be an absolute priority.
«Defending the motherland is the sacred duty of every citizen. Those who have dedicated their lives to military service deserve the government’s care and support. Military service should not inspire fear or dread. The army should be an institution that shapes young soldiers into true patriots of their homeland, drawing on the finest examples of the past and present,» Tokayev said.
Tokayev also called for objective coverage of military service, particularly highlighting service members who have received praise and commendations from their commanders.
The president emphasized that he expects a clear, phased reform plan rather than lengthy policy papers or roadmaps. The Security Council will review the plan at a meeting in the second half of October. The Security Council Office will coordinate the military reform process.
