Kathmandu— Within weeks of being elected Myanmar’s president in April, Min Aung Hlaing has embarked on a series of official visits to several countries, mostly in the Asian neighborhood. His first foreign trip was to India, followed by visits to Thailand, Laos, and Belarus. These diplomatic moves come as Myanmar continues to navigate its complex political landscape, with the former Chief of Defence Services aiming to strengthen ties with key regional powers.

Diplomatic Visits

Min Aung Hlaing’s first foreign trip was to India, a fellow member of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and the world’s largest multiparty democracy. By August, he had visited Thailand, Laos, and Belarus. The visits underscore Myanmar’s efforts to engage with its neighbors and strengthen regional ties, particularly with countries that have provided support to the current government.

Political Context

The visits come in the context of Myanmar’s ongoing political turmoil. Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize winner and former State Counsellor, was Myanmar’s State Counsellor and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2016 until 2021, when the military overthrew her government. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants against Min Aung Hlaing, alleging his involvement in the Rohingya genocide. However, the Myanmar government has rejected these accusations.

Regional Alliances

Myanmar’s rulers have relied on strong ties with Russia, China, and India for trade and cooperation in other fields. These relationships have been crucial for the government, as evidenced by the red-carpet welcomes from New Delhi, Beijing, and Moscow. The country’s constitution guarantees the army 25% of the parliament’s seats, and the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) contests other seats left open for all political groups during the general election.

ASEAN and Beyond

Pressure from some members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to ease domestic political conditions by releasing Aung San Suu Kyi from detention has not been effective. Instead, Myanmar has relied on Russia, China, and India for support. The 11-member ASEAN might ease the pressure it has applied in recent years, as criticism of the military-dominated Constitution hardly stings, with Suu Kyi herself having accepted and functioned under it. NLD leaders’ strategy is to engage the military in some form of democratic process and keep hopes for more reforms alive.

In the ensuing days, U Min can be expected to be invited to other capitals, too. Some, if not all, of the Central Asian states might receive him. Parallel to the exchange of visits at the top level, ministerial and technical teams will also travel to and from the Southeast Asian nation that borders South Asia, including India and Bangladesh.

(With inputs from RN)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.