Kazakhstan’s Security Council has approved a significant military reform plan aimed at modernizing the nation’s Armed Forces. The plan, announced during a meeting chaired by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on October 21, focuses on creating a more modern, mobile, and technologically advanced military. Key elements include the improvement of military management, training, and the establishment of a new Unmanned Forces branch.
President Tokayev emphasized the importance of strengthening service safety, enhancing command standards, efficiently utilizing public resources, and fostering better relations between the military and society. The comprehensive reform plan integrates international military experience, insights from modern warfare, and recommendations from domestic experts.
Among the notable changes is a new two-stage model of compulsory military service. Recruits will first undergo six months of training at military centers, followed by six months of service in military units, emphasizing combat readiness and operational duties. Additional measures are set to protect servicemen’s rights, improve military discipline, and reinforce safety standards.
The government also plans to enhance military-patriotic education, expand specialized military schools, and improve initial military training. A new information and communications strategy will be introduced, along with strengthened educational programs based on the constitutional principle of law and order.
The organizational changes outlined in the reform plan are scheduled for completion by the end of 2026, with the main conceptual reforms expected to be implemented in 2027. President Tokayev has tasked officials with conducting a comprehensive review of the Defence Ministry by the end of 2026.
Implementation of the reform plan will be coordinated by the government and Security Council, with military security identified as a national priority requiring collaboration across relevant government institutions.