Myanmar: Junta Chief Meets Putin In Russia

Facts

• On Wed., Myanmar's junta chief, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, met with Russia's Vladimir Putin for the first time since the military took over the country in Feb. 2021.
• Following the meeting, Min Aung Hlaing announced that Myanmar has begun importing petroleum products from Russia and that a shipment of diesel is expected in the coming days. Myanmar will pay for the products in Russian rubles.
• This comes a day after Min Aung Hlaing reportedly met Putin adviser Anton Kobyakov and Russia's deputy defense minister Alexander Fomin to deepen relations and discuss economic cooperation to promote tourism and the oil and gas trade.
• These meetings took place on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia's port city of Vladivostok. Min Aung Hlaing arrived on Sun., marking his third visit to Russia since he became Myanmar's leader.
• Russia is one of the few countries to support the military junta, recognizing Min Aung Hlaing as Myanmar's legitimate representative and committing to enhancing military cooperation.
• Meanwhile, Myanmar's military junta has supported Russia's invasion of Ukraine, blaming NATO, Ukraine, and the US for the conflict.

Sources: Al Jazeera, Moscow Times, Irrawaddy, Reuters, and Myanmar-now.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by The Diplomat. Although Myanmar and Russia have deepened their relations over the past several years, this trend has accelerated rapidly since the 2021 military coup in Myanmar and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. This convergence was inevitable as they've both become pariah states, facing international sanctions and diplomatic isolation. Nevertheless, while their solidarity might bring short-term benefits, it will only damage further them in the long run.
• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Tass. Myanmar and Russia are traditional partners that have historically cooperated on a solid foundation that isn't affected by political circumstances of any sort. Despite the pandemic, they have expanded their trade and their military and technical cooperation for the mutual benefit of both countries. In addition, Moscow has politically supported Myanmar's efforts to stabilize the country and its plans to organize parliamentary elections next year.

Predictions