Myanmar’s president Min Aung Hlaing will travel to India this weekend, marking his first overseas trip since formally taking office last month.

The visit, scheduled from 30 May to 3 June, was confirmed by India’s foreign ministry. During his stay in New Delhi, Min Aung Hlaing is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1 June, as well as President Droupadi Murmu and senior business leaders. Officials say the talks aim to “strengthen and deepen the multifaceted relations” between the two countries.

Min Aung Hlaing, who seized power in a 2021 coup, was elected president on 3 April through a parliamentary vote dominated by military allies. The move has been widely criticised abroad as an attempt to rebrand military rule under civilian guise. His government has since rolled back some of the harsher measures imposed by the junta, presenting them as gestures of reconciliation. Observers, however, describe these steps as largely cosmetic, designed to soften the regime’s image.

The trip was initially tied to the International Big Cat Alliance Summit, but after the event was postponed, the visit was converted into a full state engagement. For India, the meetings offer a chance to reinforce ties with a neighbour whose strategic position between South and Southeast Asia is increasingly important.

For Myanmar, the journey is seen as an effort to gain legitimacy on the international stage. Min Aung Hlaing’s presence in New Delhi will be closely watched, not only for the diplomatic agreements that may emerge but also for the broader message it sends about his government’s standing after years of isolation.

-2026-05-29

On 5/29/2026 at 11:22 AM, geovalin said:

Myanmar’s president Min Aung Hlaing will travel to India this weekend,

An opportunity to assasinate him??