Min Aung Hlaing’s trip to Thailand is about seeking legitimacy

Photo – Thai Prime Minister and Min Aung Hlaing inspect the honour guard during a welcome ceremony at Government House in Bangkok. (REUTERS) REUTERS MAJIMA. The military leader Min Aung Hlaing, who is acting as president of Myanmar, is on an official trip to Thailand as part of an effort to gain international recognition, and the Thai government is also promoting an engagement policy to rebuild relations between Myanmar and ASEAN, Reuters reported. Min Aung Hlaing arrived in Thailand on August 6 and is scheduled to meet with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and attend the Thailand-Myanmar Economic Forum. Min Aung Hlaing has been excluded from ASEAN summits since the 2021 coup, and the coup has led to a civil war in Myanmar, killing about 100,000 people, Reuters reported. After the general election in April 2026, the military-backed party won, and Min Aung Hlaing took the position of leader of the semi-civilian military regime, but continues to face sanctions from Western countries. This trip to Thailand is Min Aung Hlaing's fourth foreign trip since becoming the leader of the semi-civilian military regime, and he has previously visited China, India, and Laos. Thailand must balance engagement and recognition Thai Prime Minister Anutin has stated that the Thai government's policy towards Myanmar is "calibrated re-engagement" and that communication channels are open to encourage Myanmar to follow the ASEAN peace plan. However, analysts say that Thailand must be careful not to appear to recognize Min Aung Hlaing's international legitimacy while promoting relations with Myanmar. Duangphat Preecharush, a Southeast Asian affairs expert at Thammasat University in Thailand, said, "The benefit for Thailand is that its role as a bridge between the new Myanmar government and ASEAN will be strengthened. However, there is a fine line between engagement and endorsing Min Aung Hlaing's legitimacy." On the other hand, analysts believe that the Myanmar government's decision to allow a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to meet with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been detained since the coup, is a factor that supports Thailand's engagement policy. Economic interests are key Economic and investment sectors also play a major role in Min Aung Hlaing's trip to Thailand. Thailand has invested in hotels, banking, manufacturing, and energy sectors in Myanmar and is among the major foreign investors along with China and Singapore. Thai energy company PTT Exploration and Production is operating in Myanmar's important oil and gas blocks, the Yadana and Zawtika natural gas projects. However, trade between Thailand and Myanmar has declined since the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 coup, with Thai exports falling due to Myanmar's foreign exchange controls and disruptions to border trade, said Kijja Anuwitulsat, chairman of the Thai-Myanmar Business Council. He commented, "Min Aung Hlaing's visit is seen more as a gesture of goodwill. I don't expect a significant direct economic impact." Min Aung Hlaing's trip to Thailand is an attempt by the Myanmar military junta to regain diplomatic standing internationally, and for Thailand, it is an effort to balance security and economic interests with its neighbour. However, due to ongoing fighting in Myanmar, the human rights situation, and the lack of progress in the ASEAN peace process, Thailand's "engagement" policy will continue to be controversial internationally. The post Min Aung Hlaing’s trip to Thailand is about seeking legitimacy appeared first on BUR.MIZZIMA.COM.