In the midst of a conflict with the West, Moscow is looking towards Asia. Among the guests of choice of the Russian Eastern Economic Forum organized in Vladivostok: Burma. The two countries, ostracized from the international community, have come closer in recent months.
Burma, for the military coup which overthrew the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, and Russia, for its invasion of Ukraine, are isolated on the international stage and face Western sanctions. Might as well make common cause.
Moscow is heading for Southeast Asia to find new markets there and Naypidaw needs Russian arms deliveries. ” Looks like you’re not the leader of Russia, but the leader of the world said the head of the Burmese junta to Vladimir Putin, who himself praised the good relations between the two countries, describing Burma as ” reliable partner“.
Support for the efforts of the junta
Already in July, General Min Aung Hlaing had surrendered on a private tour to Moscow to meet officials from the nuclear sector and the Roscosmos space agency.
The following month it was head of Russian diplomacy Sergei Lavrov to visit the Burmese capital and pledge his support for the junta’s efforts to “stabilize” Burma and organize elections next year. A ballot that the United States has already described as a “sham election” in this country plunged into chaos and a civil war since the military putsch in February 2021.
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