Putin Hosts Myanmar’s Min Aung Hlaing in Moscow

NAYPYIDAW – Myanmar’s president Min Aung Hlaing has departed for Moscow on his first official visit to Russia since assuming the presidency in April, state media reported on Monday.

The trip marks his fifth overseas mission in just four months, following visits to India, China, Laos and Thailand. It underscores his drive to secure international legitimacy after an election dominated by the army‑backed party, held in the absence of a viable opposition.

Min Aung Hlaing, the former junta chief who seized power in a 2021 coup, has long cultivated ties with Russia. He visited the country four times as military leader, including a 2025 meeting with President Vladimir Putin that produced agreements on energy cooperation and plans for a small‑scale nuclear power plant.

This latest visit will include a Myanmar‑Russia business forum, with senior officials from the Tanintharyi region and the national aerospace agency joining the delegation. Moscow is keen to expand its footprint in Myanmar, particularly in energy and infrastructure projects such as the Dawei Special Economic Zone.

Defence ties remain central to the relationship. Russia has supplied arms, training and scholarships to Myanmar’s military, despite Western sanctions. Earlier this year, Moscow pledged to help train Myanmar’s first cosmonaut.

The presidency in Naypyidaw framed the visit as a chance to “consolidate the long friendship and strengthen strategic cooperation” between the two countries. For Min Aung Hlaing, it is also a continuation of his diplomatic campaign to break isolation and reposition Myanmar on the global stage, even as the country remains mired in civil conflict with heavy human costs.

-2026-08-18