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🇳🇵 Nepal /Elections & Politics

Myanmar's junta chief turned president heads to India, with an eye on China

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Myanmar's junta chief turned president, Min Aung Hlaing, will visit India, marking his first overseas trip since assuming the civilian role.
  • The visit aims to strengthen regional ties and offers India an opportunity to reduce China's influence and secure access to rare earth deposits.
  • This trip signifies Myanmar's gradual re-engagement with its neighbors after years of diplomatic isolation following the 2021 military coup.

Myanmar's junta chief turned president, Min Aung Hlaing, is set to embark on his first overseas visit since taking on the civilian role, traveling to India for a five-day trip starting Saturday. This visit marks a significant step in Myanmar's effort to re-engage with the region after years of diplomatic isolation following the 2021 military coup.

After changing into civilian clothes as president, Min Aung Hlaing is looking to boost diplomatic engagement across the region.

— Richard HorseySenior Myanmar adviser at Crisis Group, commenting on Min Aung Hlaing's diplomatic efforts.

For India, the visit presents a strategic opportunity to counter China's substantial influence in Myanmar. Analysts suggest India aims to secure access to the country's critical rare earth deposits and bolster its own security along its northeastern borders. Min Aung Hlaing's move to visit India, a key neighbor, is seen as an attempt to balance relations, especially given Myanmar's deeper ties with Beijing.

He expects more normal ties with ASEAN, with support from Thailand and some other member states. He is also likely to visit Beijing soon to meet Xi Jinping. India is Myanmar’s other key neighbour.

— Richard HorseySenior Myanmar adviser at Crisis Group, discussing Myanmar's regional diplomatic strategy.

"After changing into civilian clothes as president, Min Aung Hlaing is looking to boost diplomatic engagement across the region," said Richard Horsey, senior Myanmar adviser at Crisis Group. He anticipates more normalized relations with ASEAN, with support from countries like Thailand. A visit to Beijing to meet Xi Jinping is also expected soon.

All issues that form part of the gamut of relations between Myanmar and India will come up for discussion.

— Randhir JaiswalIndian foreign ministry spokesman, on the scope of talks during Min Aung Hlaing's visit.

The military takeover in February 2021 ousted the elected civilian government, leading to widespread condemnation and Myanmar's exclusion from ASEAN summits. The recent, widely criticized election that paved the way for Min Aung Hlaing's presidency has prompted him to seek greater regional and international respectability. The timing of the visit also coincides with renewed offensives by Myanmar's military in frontier areas known for rare-earth deposits, suggesting a complex interplay of diplomacy and resource control.

He is seeking more and more regional and international respectability post-election.

— Gautam MukhopadhayaFormer Indian ambassador to Myanmar, on the junta chief's motivations.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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