Myanmar Junta Signs $3M Lobby Deal to Woo Washington

[geovalin]

 

 

In a bold move to re-engage with the United States, Myanmar’s military-led government has signed a $3 million-a-year contract with Washington lobbying firm DCI Group, aiming to rebuild diplomatic ties and promote trade, natural resources, and humanitarian cooperation.

 

The agreement, revealed in filings under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act, was signed on 31 July—the same day the junta nominally handed power to a civilian-led interim government. However, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing retains full control as acting president and armed forces chief, signalling little real change in governance.

 

The DCI Group, whose partners include former Trump administration officials, is tasked with reshaping Myanmar’s image in Washington. This comes despite ongoing U.S. sanctions against Myanmar’s military leaders, imposed after the 2021 coup and the brutal crackdown on the Rohingya minority, which Washington has labelled genocide.

 

The timing of the deal coincides with renewed overtures from Min Aung Hlaing to former President Donald Trump, including a personal response to Trump’s recent tariff threats. The general praised Trump’s “strong leadership” and offered to send negotiators to Washington, seeking relief from sanctions and better trade terms.

 

The lobbying firm itself has faced scrutiny, including an FBI investigation into alleged hacking activities—claims it denies. Its past ties to Myanmar’s previous junta have also stirred controversy, with two aides to John McCain resigning in 2008 over related work.

 

Meanwhile, Myanmar’s state media confirmed the death of Myint Swe, the former president installed during the 2021 coup, further consolidating Min Aung Hlaing’s grip on power.

 

Engaging the junta marks a stark shift in U.S. policy, though officials insist recent lifting of sanctions on certain allies does not signal broader rapprochement. Behind the scenes, Washington is weighing options to divert Myanmar’s rare earth minerals away from China, a strategic move in the global tech and defence race.

 

As Myanmar seeks legitimacy and economic leverage, its outreach to Washington—via high-powered lobbying—underscores the complex dance of diplomacy, sanctions, and strategic interests in Southeast Asia.

 

 

-2025-08-08