Kazakhstan Orders Reform of Armed Forces in Two Years

(MENAFN) Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev issued a sweeping military directive Wednesday, calling on the country to urgently boost its defense capabilities, modernize its armed forces and complete wide-ranging military reforms — all within a two-year deadline.

Addressing a ceremony held in honor of Defender of the Fatherland Day, observed annually on May 7, Tokayev struck a dual tone: reaffirming Kazakhstan's commitment to peaceful conflict resolution while signaling that the nation stands ready to defend itself from a position of strength.

"We are convinced that all conflicts must be resolved through diplomatic means, through negotiations, but if necessary, we are ready to defend our interests not only through diplomacy but also from firmer positions. We believe that the principles and norms of international law should be strictly followed," the president stated.

Tokayev stressed that the country must stay vigilant against an evolving threat landscape, maintaining readiness to neutralize emerging dangers before they escalate.

"Therefore, we need to increase our defense potential and continue, first and foremost, the technological modernization of the armed forces," he said, characterizing the push as "a requirement of the current unstable, turbulent times."

Beyond hardware and technology, the president called for sweeping institutional reform across both the military and paramilitary sectors — framing the overhaul as a matter of national strategic urgency.

"This is a strategically important task that must be resolved in a short time frame – within two years," Tokayev said.

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