"Our army is stuck in the last century." Tokayev ordered military reforms in Kazakhstan

“Our army is stuck in the last century.” Tokayev ordered military reforms in Kazakhstan

President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a meeting with the leadership of the defense system.

He assessed the death of 14 servicemen during exercises in the Caspian Sea as a result of the professional incompetence of officers, including generals.

“Long-standing problems in the army are not being resolved by the leadership, which undermines the country's defense capability. No conclusions have been drawn from past tragedies. Who developed and approved the concept of these training exercises? What was the role and coordination of the General Staff? Why was the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy not present at the exercises? Irresponsibility, negligence, and showmanship have become commonplace. There is no systematic work, and plans for responding to crisis situations do not withstand any criticism. All of this is the result of the indifference of the leadership of the military department,” he said.

The President also noted that during the exercises, the servicemen were not provided with the necessary equipment, including life jackets at sea.

According to the Kazakh leader, the government commission must evaluate the actions of all officials responsible for the preparation and conduct of the exercises, supply, and compliance with safety measures.

In addition, by order of the president, a comprehensive inspection of the situation in the Ministry of Defense has begun.

He emphasized that ranks and positions do not exempt anyone from responsibility.

“This tragedy clearly demonstrated many shortcomings and a lack of professional skills in the army. The time has come to fundamentally implement military reforms. This is an urgent task. For this reason, I have made personnel changes,” said Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

He particularly emphasized the need for a deep transformation of the defense department's activities.

“At a recent meeting with the apparatus of the Security Council, I outlined the priority areas of work in the military sphere. Our army is stuck in the last century. Currently, it is necessary to completely rebuild the command system based on advanced international experience. A comprehensive approach is needed, and for this, a clear vision is required. Only broad-minded, educated officers possess such a vision. The goal of the reform is to form a new model of the army,” said the President of Kazakhstan.