Myanmar’s ruling junta has signed a fresh military cooperation agreement with Russia, cementing ties that analysts say have been vital to its survival since seizing power in 2021.

The five-year pact, announced by Moscow on Tuesday, follows a visit to Yangon by Kremlin security chief Sergei Shoigu and will run until 2030.

The deal comes as Myanmar’s armed forces continue to battle a nationwide rebellion sparked by the coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government. Russian-made jets have played a central role in the junta’s campaign, carrying out airstrikes against insurgent groups and, according to conflict monitors, frequently hitting civilian areas.

Shoigu told junta officials that Russia “fully supports” Myanmar’s leadership in defending sovereignty and pledged comprehensive assistance, including diplomatic backing. State media in both countries confirmed the agreement but offered few details beyond promises of enhanced defence cooperation.

The alliance underscores how both nations, branded pariahs by much of the West—Myanmar for its coup and Russia for its invasion of Ukraine—have leaned on each other to withstand sanctions and isolation. Some observers allege that Myanmar has even supplied equipment to Russia to aid its faltering war effort.

The announcement coincides with Myanmar’s controversial election, which the junta hailed as a step towards democracy. Vast swathes of rebel-held territory were excluded, while Suu Kyi’s party was barred from participating. Official results handed more than 80 percent of seats to the Union Solidarity and Development Party, widely seen as a military proxy.

Rebel groups have dismissed the vote as illegitimate, and analysts warn the new alliance with Moscow is unlikely to quell the civil war. Instead, it signals the junta’s determination to tighten its grip on power with Russian support, even as international condemnation grows louder.

-2026-02-04

two evil regimes!