Myanmar's Min Aung Hlaing takes first foreign tour as leader, with visit to India

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. World Myanmar's Min Aung Hlaing takes first foreign tour as leader, with visit to India May 30, 20265:00 AM ET By Michael Sullivan Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, then head of Myanmar's military council, inspects officers during a parade to commemorate Myanmar's 78th Armed Forces Day in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, March 27, 2023. Aung Shine Oo/AP hide caption toggle caption Aung Shine Oo/AP Myanmar's Min Aung Hlaing is abroad on his first trip as president with a trip to neighboring India.

India's foreign ministry said in a statement the visit will last from Saturday to Wednesday. The former leader of Myanmar's military will hold talks with India Prime Minister Narendra Modi and with Indian business leaders. He's also expected to meet with India President Droupadi Murmu.

The Details

It's Min Aung Hlaing's first international trip since being sworn in as Myanmar's new president in April, in elections that have been dismissed by Western governments and rights groups as a sham. Sponsor Message In 2021, as chief of Myanmar's armed forces–known as the Tatmadaw–Min Aung Hlaing deposed the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, sparking a brutal five year long civil war that shows no sign of ending. Despite the violence, the military went ahead with the election anyway, one in which millions were disenfranchised because of the war, while Aung San Suu Kyi's party was barred from competing.

Before the president's trip began, New Delhi said in a statement that the visit "is expected to further strengthen and deepen the multi-faceted relations between the two countries. " Asia 'I just want to see her again' says son of imprisoned Myanmar ex-leader Aung San Suu Kyi Most analysts had expected Min Aung Hlaing's first trip to be to neighboring China, the Myanmar military's biggest booster, which also supported the general election. But that trip didn't happen, perhaps owing to Xi Jinping's focus on high profile state visits from both President Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin.

Also, says Myanmar analyst Min Zaw Oo, "both sides needed to make more preparation about the agenda to be discussed. " Morgan Michaels, a Myanmar analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore, isn't surprised that the Indian visit is happening first. "India has more or less maintained its relationship with Naypyidaw since the coup, having assessed that the Tatmadaw was here to stay.

What Experts Say

It sent its minister of external affairs to the swearing in ceremony for Min Aung Hlaing in April, suggesting that New Delhi is keen to move forward with the new regime. " He also notes that China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Myanmar just last month. Sponsor Message There are a number of issues India and Myanmar have to discuss.

Chiefly, their shared security concerns along their 1,000 kilometer (621 mile) long porous border. Myanmar is worried about resistance to military rule, India is concerned with insurgent groups in its northeast.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.