28-3-2025 (YANGON) Myanmar’s military strongman Min Aung Hlaing is set to emerge from relative isolation as he prepares to attend the BIMSTEC summit, a gathering of Bay of Bengal nations in Bangkok. Sources privy to the arrangements have revealed that the junta leader is actively pursuing bilateral discussions on the summit’s periphery.
The Bangkok conference, scheduled for 3-4 April, marks a notable departure from Min Aung Hlaing’s limited international engagements since his military’s seizure of power in 2021. His administration, which has faced widespread condemnation and Western sanctions, remains excluded from ASEAN gatherings due to its failure to implement agreed-upon peace initiatives.
The seven-nation bloc, comprising Thailand, Myanmar, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan, serves as a platform for regional cooperation across various sectors. This forthcoming appearance represents one of the general’s rare ventures into a Southeast Asian nation since the coup that plunged Myanmar into civil strife.
Whilst three well-placed sources have confirmed these developments, they spoke under condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of their positions. At present, both the Myanmar military government’s spokesperson and Thai foreign ministry officials have yet to provide official confirmation regarding Min Aung Hlaing’s anticipated participation.
