US Lifts Myanmar Sanctions After Junta Chief Praises Trump

[geovalin]

 

In a move raising eyebrows across the human rights community, the United States has quietly removed sanctions on several close allies of Myanmar's military regime—just weeks after the junta leader publicly praised President Donald Trump and appealed for economic relief.

 

The unexpected decision, announced by the U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday, lifts restrictions on four individuals and three companies previously targeted for their ties to Myanmar’s military. The sanctioned entities had been blacklisted under the Biden administration for supporting a regime accused of war crimes, a bloody coup, and violent crackdowns on democracy.

 

Among those delisted are KT Services & Logistics, MCM Group, and Suntac Technologies, along with their respective owners, as well as a figure identified as Tin Latt Min—all known for close connections to the junta leadership. No official explanation was provided for the reversal, and the White House has yet to comment.

 

Human Rights Watch condemned the move as “extremely worrying,” suggesting it signals a shift in Washington’s stance toward the military regime. John Sifton, the group’s Asia advocacy director, called the action “shocking” and warned it could undermine years of international pressure.

 

The timing has not gone unnoticed. Just two weeks earlier, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing sent a letter to Trump requesting a reduction in looming U.S. tariffs and asking for sanctions to be lifted. In the message, made public by Myanmar’s state media, the junta chief praised Trump’s leadership and offered to send negotiators to Washington.

 

The general also pointed to Myanmar’s importance in the global rare earth supply chain—a sector increasingly strategic amid U.S.–China rivalry. While Myanmar holds vast reserves, many of its mines lie in rebel-held territory and feed into China’s processing system.

 

The policy shift could have far-reaching consequences. Activists fear it will embolden the junta and discourage those fighting for a return to democracy.

 

As Myanmar remains gripped by conflict and authoritarian rule, critics argue the U.S. risks sacrificing human rights for geopolitical gain.

 

-2025-07-25

[HappyExpat57]

Kiss the ring, get a pass.

[Will B Good]

4 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Kiss the ring, get a pass.

 

You could be right........next week....... "Maxwell pardoned as she praises Trump"

[Will B Good]

3 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

You could be right........next week....... "Maxwell pardoned as she praises Trump"

 

 

Going out on limb here and thinking that 'important group' might have been considered potential Trump voters.

 

[Hamus Yaigh]

The U.S. Treasury's lack of explanation for lifting sanctions on Myanmar junta allies on July 24, 2025, likely reflects the poor optics of the decision, as highlighted by the Reuters headline. The move, following junta leader Min Aung Hlaing’s praise of Trump and request for sanctions relief, risks appearing as a U.S. prioritization of strategic interests (e.g., rare earth minerals) over addressing the junta’s human rights abuses, including genocidal actions. Providing no rationale avoids drawing further attention to this perception, as the decision could be seen as tacitly supporting the junta’s allies, despite not lifting sanctions on the leadership itself. #despicable

[transam]

What next................🤥