Myanmar's Min Aung Hlaing arrives in Thailand on first trip as civilian leader
Myanmar's military leader Min Aung Hlaing has arrived in Thailand for an official visit, marking his first trip abroad since the 2021 coup. The visit highlights Thailand's strategy of 'calibrated re-engagement' with the junta, despite international condemnation and sanctions against the leader for alleged crimes against humanity.
Why it matters
This visit signals a potential shift in regional diplomatic isolation of the Myanmar junta, testing the unity of ASEAN's stance on the ongoing civil war.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Min Aung Hlaing has been an international pariah, barred from western countries and accused of crimes against humanity
Myanmar's military leader Min Aung Hlaing has arrived on an official visit to Thailand, his first since he launched the coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government in 2021.
The coup ignited a civil war, which has killed thousands of people and wrecked the economy.
Min Aung Hlaing, who was already subject to sanctions over his involvement in the mass expulsion of Muslim Rohingyas in 2017, has been an international pariah, barred from western countries and accused of crimes against humanity.
He was declared president in April and left his position as military commander, following an election which was widely condemned for being neither free nor fair.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in