Thai air chief meets junta amid deadly raids

Myanmar’s military leader Min Aung Hlaing welcomed Thailand’s Air Force Commander in Naypyitaw this week, even as his regime intensified airstrikes on civilian areas that left dozens dead.

Air Chief Marshal Sakesan Kantha arrived on Wednesday, a day after a junta warplane bombed a market in Ponnagyun Township, Rakhine State, killing 18 people, mostly women and children. Two days earlier, strikes on Myinmu Township in Sagaing Region killed nine, including a young child.

Despite the bloodshed, junta media reported that Min Aung Hlaing and his Thai counterpart discussed joint training and broader military cooperation. The junta boss hailed his air force as the “permanent guardian” of Myanmar’s democratisation, claiming December’s election was a success. The vote, held in only 265 of 330 townships, delivered the expected victory for the military-backed USDP and was widely condemned as a sham.

The Thai commander was given a guard of honour at Yangon’s Mingaladon Air Base before travelling to Naypyitaw for talks with junta Air Force chief Tun Aung. The visit was described as goodwill, but it comes as the regime increasingly relies on air power to counter the armed uprising.

Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, speaking in Geneva the same day, struck a more cautious note, warning that elections alone would not resolve Myanmar’s crisis. He stressed the need for dialogue with ethnic groups along the border and said Bangkok aimed to encourage a process aligned with ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus.

Since the 2021 coup, Thai and Myanmar generals have maintained reciprocal visits despite international sanctions. Recent meetings have also focused on cross-border crime in Myawaddy and reopening key trade gates.

With Myanmar’s new parliament due to convene in mid-March, the timing of Thailand’s military outreach highlights the delicate balance Bangkok is seeking: maintaining ties with its neighbour while signalling concern over escalating violence against civilians.

-2026-03-01