Junta courts Saudi as ties deepen

Myanmar’s military regime is stepping up its diplomatic outreach in the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia signalling interest in closer cooperation across trade, investment and energy.

On Thursday, Saudi Ambassador Maziad Mohammed M. Al‑Howishan met junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and Foreign Minister Than Swe in Naypyitaw. According to regime reports, discussions touched on regional politics, international cooperation and potential energy projects.

Saudi Arabia is among the few Middle Eastern nations maintaining formal ties with Myanmar. Thousands of Myanmar migrant workers are employed in the kingdom, while many Myanmar Muslims travel annually to Mecca for the Hajj pilgrimage.

Facing Western sanctions since the 2021 coup, the junta has sought to deepen relations with Gulf states. Energy shortages have added urgency, with the regime inviting investment in oil and gas projects. In recent years, Min Aung Hlaing has held talks with Kuwait’s prime minister, while senior officials have engaged Qatar, the UAE and Iran on energy and defence cooperation.

Reports have previously suggested covert arms deals with Iran, while Qatar and Kuwait have been courted for mineral extraction and trade. The United Arab Emirates has been invited to invest in offshore energy projects.

Many of these states are aligned with China and Russia through blocs such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS—groups the junta has openly sought to join as it leans more heavily on Beijing and Moscow for support.

Myanmar currently maintains embassies in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt and Israel, reflecting its bid to expand diplomatic channels beyond the West. For the regime, closer ties with Riyadh would not only ease economic pressures but also signal a shift towards new alliances in a region where energy and geopolitics intersect.

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