Report Launch: Uzbekistan's Armed Forces and Military Posture

Overview

Uzbekistan has traditionally been viewed as Central Asia’s leading military power, though recent trends show Kazakhstan gaining ground in spending and modernisation. The question arises whether military prowess and defence dynamics are shifting away from Uzbeki dominance. An examination of Uzbekistan’s command structure, force composition, and procurement policies, alongside challenges in logistics and regional flashpoints such as Karakalpakstan and the Fergana Valley, provides clear insights into how Uzbekistan’s defence posture is adapting to shifting regional dynamics.

To delve into these matters, this event launches a new report on Uzbekistan's army and defence posture by the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs. It is part of the research project and multi-chapter series entitled, ‘The Armed Forces of Central Asia’, providing a comprehensive mapping of military infrastructures and force structures across the region, including detailed analysis of each country’s armed forces. This latest report on Uzbekistan accompanies the previous launched chapter on Tajikistan’s armed forces and the interactive ‘Central Asia Military Units Map’ tool, providing a comprehensive overview of military installations and units across the five Central Asian countries.

Speakers Biography

The event will be chaired by Dr Antonio Giustozzi, Senior Research Fellow with the Terrorism and Conflict Studies group at RUSI, with presentations by:

 Michael Hilliard, Director of Defence & Security Analysis, The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs

Michael Hilliard is the Director of Defence & Security Analysis at the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs, where he leads the multi-volume Armed Forces of Central Asia project. He also works as a strategic consultant, advising energy and mining firms across Eurasia on military security, regional risk, and economic issues.

Michael S. Coffey, Assistant Professor of History and Political Science, College of Southern Maryland

Michael S. Coffey is an Associate Professor of History and Political Science at the College of Southern Maryland. He is also an editor at the Journal of Slavic Military Studies. Prior to his academic career, he spent several decades working in the defence, security, and intelligence sectors, focusing primarily on the republics of Central Asia.