Myanmar’s Min Aung Hlaing heads to Russia to deepen strategic ties with Moscow

Myanmar's military leader, President Min Aung Hlaing, is set to visit Russia in a bid to bolster strategic ties with Moscow, according to state media. President Hlaing, who took office in April following a general election deemed neither free nor fair by international observers, departed from the capital Naypyitaw on Monday morning. He will engage in discussions with President Vladimir Putin and other high-ranking Russian officials, focusing on economic, security, and social cooperation, reported MRTV television.

This visit comes amid Russia's role as a significant arms supplier to Myanmar, providing fighter jets used against ethnic minority groups, including those allied with the pro-democracy movement. Previously, President Hlaing met Putin at the World Atomic Week Forum in Moscow in September. Notably, Russian President Putin has yet to visit Myanmar.

The trip is part of a series of diplomatic visits aimed at enhancing Myanmar's global recognition and restoring its diplomatic standing. Despite these efforts, President Hlaing has remained largely isolated on the international stage. Additionally, he will participate in the Myanmar-Russia Business Forum during his visit.

President Hlaing's seven visits to Russia since the military coup in February 2021 underscore the significance of this upcoming trip. As noted by a series of sources, the election held in December and January was widely criticized as sham, aimed at cementing the military's control while ostensibly returning civilian rule.