Myanmar’s military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, has publicly thanked former President Donald Trump for a letter warning of steep tariffs, a move seen as the first public acknowledgement of the junta’s rule by the US. This surprising expression of gratitude comes despite the fact that the US State Department has sanctioned Hlaing and others for human rights abuses and the violent overthrow of Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government in 2021.
The letter from Trump, one of twenty similar letters sent to world leaders, informed Hlaing of a 40% tariff on goods from Myanmar, down from an initially threatened 44%. This seemingly minor detail, however, was seized upon by the junta as a significant gesture of recognition. In response, Hlaing penned a multi-page letter, praising Trump’s leadership and echoing Trump’s false claims of widespread election fraud in the 2020 US Presidential election. He even went so far as to express appreciation for the Trump administration’s decision to cut funding for US-backed media outlets operating in Myanmar, including Voice of America and Radio Free Asia, which have provided crucial independent reporting during the ongoing conflict.
Hlaing’s letter also requested that Trump reconsider the economic sanctions imposed on Myanmar, suggesting a significantly lower tariff rate of 10-20%. This move highlights the junta’s increasing reliance on allies like China and Russia for economic and military support, a shift that has accelerated since the US imposed sanctions.
Experts like Richard Horsey of the International Crisis Group note that this is the first public sign of US acknowledgment of the junta. While prior private communications may have occurred, they would certainly not have been from Trump, Horsey points out. The incident underscores the complex geopolitical landscape in Myanmar and the unpredictable nature of international relations, especially considering the involvement of a former US president whose actions often defied conventional diplomatic norms.
The situation in Myanmar remains volatile, with ongoing civil war and the continued imprisonment of Aung San Suu Kyi. The junta’s response to Trump’s letter, while seemingly incongruous, reveals the strategic calculations and power dynamics at play in this deeply troubled nation.
