Post by : Badri Ariffin

Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing has arrived in Thailand on an official visit, marking his first trip to the country since leading the military coup that removed Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government in 2021.

The military takeover triggered a civil war that has claimed thousands of lives and severely damaged Myanmar's economy.

Min Aung Hlaing had already faced international sanctions for his role in the 2017 mass expulsion of Muslim Rohingyas. He has remained largely isolated internationally, with bans on travel to many Western countries and accusations of crimes against humanity.

Presidency follows widely criticised election

Min Aung Hlaing became Myanmar's president in April after stepping down as military commander following an election that drew widespread criticism.

The election was widely condemned for not being free or fair. Major opposition parties were prevented from participating, while voting did not take place in large areas controlled by armed insurgent groups. As a result, the military-backed party secured control of the new parliament.

ASEAN restrictions remain in place

Despite becoming president, Min Aung Hlaing continues to face restrictions within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

He has been barred from attending ASEAN leaders' meetings because Myanmar has not implemented the five-point consensus agreed by ASEAN member states in 2021. The agreement called on Myanmar's military government to reduce violence and begin negotiations with opposition groups.

Several ASEAN members, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore, have continued to call for meaningful steps by Myanmar's military to ease the humanitarian crisis and work toward ending the civil war before restoring full diplomatic engagement.

Thailand strengthens engagement with Myanmar

Thailand has taken a different approach by pursuing what it describes as "calibrated re-engagement" with Myanmar's government.

Thai authorities say regular high-level communication is necessary because the two countries share a 2,400-kilometre border, making cooperation important for addressing issues such as transnational crime.

During the visit, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul welcomed Min Aung Hlaing with a red-carpet ceremony.

The Myanmar president is scheduled to attend an official dinner, meet the leaders of both houses of Thailand's parliament, and jointly oversee a Thailand-Myanmar business forum aimed at strengthening economic cooperation.

Joint statement focuses on economy and border cooperation

Following talks, the two governments released a joint statement on Thursday evening.

The statement did not mention ASEAN's concerns over Myanmar's failure to implement the 2021 five-point consensus and made only limited reference to the ongoing civil war.

Instead, it focused mainly on rebuilding economic ties, managing border issues, and expanding security cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.

The statement also highlighted cooperation on security, an area that remains important to Thailand's military, which continues to play a significant role in shaping the country's policy towards Myanmar.

Although the joint statement did not express concerns about the impact of Myanmar's civil war, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow told journalists that Thailand hopes to see violence reduced and wants both sides in the conflict to show a willingness to negotiate.

Regional engagement expands after election

Thailand's decision comes shortly after China and India also recognised Myanmar's new government and invited Min Aung Hlaing for official visits after he assumed the presidency.

China's backing has played a major role in supporting Myanmar's military government, helping it regain some territory previously captured by armed opposition groups.

Human rights group criticises Thailand's approach

Thailand's decision to host Min Aung Hlaing has attracted criticism from campaign group Justice for Myanmar.

The organisation said the Thai government continues to provide the military leadership with what it described as false legitimacy through ongoing diplomatic engagement.

Justice for Myanmar also stated that Thailand's policy of "calibrated re-engagement" with Myanmar's military government would only prolong the suffering of the Myanmar people.

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