Stage Talks with Bellingcat "Mapping Military Power" with Michael Hilliard
Nov 7, 2025
Michael Hilliard, Director of Defence and Security Analysis at the Oxus Society, shares insights into the complexities of modern warfare and military power measurement. He discusses the challenges of comparing military capabilities across regions and highlights Uzbekistan’s military posture, geography, and economic factors. Hilliard reveals intriguing wargame scenarios testing Uzbek defenses and examines the implications of logistics and paramilitary roles in the region. He also explores the influence of foreign suppliers, emphasizing the importance of domestic repair capabilities for military readiness.
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Comprehensive Mapping Revealed Thousands Of Sites
- Oxus located roughly 5,400 military and security locations across Central Asia after two years of research.
- That dataset enabled mapping and deeper regional military analysis beyond headline metrics.
Numbers Mislead Without Context
- Simple metrics like GDP or budget don't map directly to military capability across roles.
- Personnel counts, budgets and equipment ratios each tell different, sometimes contradictory stories.
Forces Reflect Geography And Threats
- Militaries are built for purpose: geography and threat perceptions shape force structure.
- Uzbekistan emphasises rapid response and internal security because of past uprisings and border threats.