Blunder in, abandon allies and court a dictator: it’s the Trump doctrine, now playing out in Myanmar | Steve Bloomfield
The US condemned the genocide and military rule there, but now that Trump craves its rare earths, that’s all changed. For democracy activists, that’s a disaster Marco Rubio was once adamant that the US had to do everything in its power to end what he described as the “ethnic cleansing” of the Rohingya in Myanmar. In a 2017 letter he signed along with 20 other US senators , Rubio called for…
The United States has long condemned Myanmar's military regime for its alleged genocide and human rights abuses against the Rohingya minority. However, recent events have shown a stark shift in US policy. Former Republican senator Marco Rubio, who previously championed the cause of ending the ethnic cleansing, is now advocating for a relationship with the very regime he once condemned.
This shift appears to be driven by the US's growing interest in Myanmar's vast reserves of rare earth minerals, which are crucial for military technology and hi-tech manufacturing.
In 2017, Rubio, along with 20 other US senators, signed a letter calling for strong sanctions against Burmese military officials responsible for human rights abuses. However, in 2021, after Aung San Suu Kyi was imprisoned and the military took full control, Rubio became the US Secretary of State. Now, rather than prosecuting Min Aung Hlaing, the general responsible for the atrocities, Rubio wants him to become an ally of the US.
The Trump administration has recently decided to normalize diplomatic relations with the Myanmar regime and is even considering lifting sanctions. This decision has shocked other western nations, none of which were warned about the impending change in policy. The move has been championed by Roger Stone, a former Trump ally who now works as a lobbyist for the Myanmar regime.
Meanwhile, the US is also seeking to secure access to Myanmar's rare earth minerals. Vance, the assistant secretary of state for intelligence and research, recently visited Myanmar's capital, Naypyidaw, to secure the release of a US citizen and held talks with the generals. The purpose of these talks was not to advocate for democracy or an end to the brutal war, but to secure American access to Myanmar's rare earth reserves.
Myanmar's rare earth mines, which currently supply China, total 600, and their exports to China have reached $3.6 billion since the 2021 coup. This is the prize the US appears to be after. Vance's trip has given Myanmar's generals a propaganda victory and has been met with mixed reactions from other countries. While the UK, Canada, Australia, and the EU are likely to continue opposing the junta, there are concerns about the UK's recent reduction in aid to Myanmar and their engagement with the pro-democracy camp.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian US's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
