Myanmar's Min Aung Hlaing seeks legitimacy in Thailand

Myanmar's military leader and now president, Min Aung Hlaing, recently completed a two-day trip to Thailand. His visit aimed to present himself as the head of a civilian government after years of diplomatic isolation. The trip saw a grand reception with a red carpet, honor guard, and photo opportunities with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, marking the ceremony befitting a visiting head of state.

Moe Thuzar, a Myanmar Studies Program head, explained that Myanmar equates engagement with acceptance. Hlaing is seeking to leverage Myanmar's space in bilateral relations with neighboring nations to secure greater acceptance of his administration. The brutal civil war that began after Hlaing's 2021 coup has resulted in an estimated 100,000 deaths and over 3 million displacements, with Western countries imposing sanctions over alleged war crimes and human rights abuses.

ASEAN, which generally emphasizes non-interference in its member's domestic affairs, has barred Hlaing or his foreign minister from attending its leaders' summits. However, Hlaing hopes to break free from his growing isolation by holding staggered elections criticized by the UN and Western governments as a sham. Since becoming president, Hlaing has visited India, China, Laos, and Thailand, following Bangkok's push for peace efforts in Myanmar's civil war and its reengagement with ASEAN.

Hlaing's visit to Thailand is also aimed at finding legitimacy in the ASEAN region, given Thailand's role as ASEAN's founder and significant influence in the bloc. Despite ASEAN's lack of official endorsement for Myanmar's last elections, the bloc is unlikely to let Hlaing back to its leaders' summits soon. Hlaing's trips abroad as the newly installed president might help convince ASEAN to accept his government on its own terms, according to Moe Thuzar.