Myanmar ex-junta chief seeks political legitimacy on first Thailand trip as civilian leader

Myanmar's former military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, met with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul in Bangkok on Thursday, marking his first visit to the neighboring nation as a civilian leader. The meeting aimed to ease Myanmar's diplomatic isolation and push for cooperation between the two nations.

Min Aung Hlaing, who led a 2021 military coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi, has been working towards democracy and stability in Myanmar. However, his government has refused to follow ASEAN's five-point consensus framework aimed at ending hostilities through dialogue. ASEAN has excluded Myanmar's leadership from high-level summits since the putsch, but the country's foreign minister attended an informal meeting with regional counterparts in Bangkok last month.

Thailand has been leading efforts to normalize relations with Myanmar both bilaterally and through ASEAN. The Thai Prime Minister noted that both countries are members of ASEAN and support Myanmar's participation in the bloc. Myanmar has already secured recognition from India, China, Russia, and Thailand, making restored ties with ASEAN a "nice to have" rather than essential.

During his visit, Min Aung Hlaing discussed combating illegal cross-border trade and inviting investment in energy infrastructure, agriculture, education, and healthcare. He also welcomed Aung San Suu Kyi's meeting with the International Committee of the Red Cross, expressing hope for further positive steps towards peace and stability. Critics argue that Thailand's engagement with Myanmar is driven by bilateral concerns, but it is also aimed at having ASEAN normalize ties with Myanmar, creating divisions within the bloc.