Myanmar's leader, Min Aung Hlaing, has arrived in Thailand for his first official visit since the 2021 coup, which overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and plunged the country into a civil war that has caused thousands of casualties and a severe economic crisis.
Min Aung Hlaing, who was declared president in April after elections widely condemned as neither free nor fair, remains an isolated figure on the international stage. He is under sanctions for his role in the mass expulsion of Rohingya Muslims in 2017 and faces charges of crimes against humanity. In the last election, the main opposition parties were barred from participating, while voting was not held in large areas controlled by rebel groups, ensuring the military dominates the new parliament.
The visit to Thailand marks a significant diplomatic milestone. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul welcomed him with an official ceremony and a red carpet. During his stay, Min Aung Hlaing will hold meetings with Thai parliament leaders and attend a Thailand-Myanmar business forum to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries.
Meanwhile, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations continues to exclude Min Aung Hlaing from high-level summits, as he has not implemented the five-point agreement adopted in 2021, which called for reducing violence and initiating dialogue with the opposition.
Unlike countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore, which are demanding concessions from the military junta before normalizing relations, Thailand is pursuing a policy it calls “calibrated reengagement.” Bangkok argues that the roughly 2,400-kilometer shared border makes cooperation on issues such as border security and the fight against transnational crime imperative.
Thailand's decision has sparked strong reactions from human rights organizations. Justice For Myanmar called the visit an attempt to give "false legitimacy" to the military junta, warning that diplomatic rapprochement with the regime will only prolong the suffering of the Myanmar people.
