Yangon — Myanmar’s army chief lauded President Trump and requested him to carry sanctions, the ruling junta mentioned Friday, after a tariff letter from the U.S. president that it has taken as Washington’s first public recognition of its rule. Min Aung Hlaing endorsed Mr. Trump’s false declare that the 2020 U.S. election was stolen, and thanked him for shutting down funding for U.S.-backed media shops which have lengthy supplied unbiased protection of conflict-wracked Myanmar.
The army ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected civilian authorities in 2021, plunging the nation, which is also referred to as Burma, into civil conflict. Suu Kyi has remained imprisoned since then.
The U.S. State Division sanctioned the junta chief and others for utilizing “violence and terror to oppress” Burmese individuals and “denying them the ability to freely choose their own leaders.”
U.S. diplomats don’t formally interact with the junta, however Mr. Trump despatched a letter to Min Aung Hlaing by title on Monday telling him the U.S. would impose a 40% tariff from August 1, down from a threatened 44%. It was considered one of 20 related letters despatched to world leaders by Mr. Trump in latest days.
Myanmar’s army chief Min Aung Hlaing arrives to ship a speech throughout a ceremony to mark the nation’s Armed Forces Day in Naypyidaw, March 27, 2025.
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“It’s certainly the first public indication I’ve seen of U.S. acknowledgement of MAH and the junta,” mentioned Richard Horsey of the Worldwide Disaster Group.
Any earlier personal communications “would almost certainly not have been from Trump of course,” he informed AFP.
Min Aung Hlaing seized the chance to reply with a multi-page letter launched in each Burmese and English by the junta info group Friday.
In it, he expressed his “sincere appreciation” for Mr. Trump’s letter and praised the U.S. president’s “strong leadership in guiding your country toward national prosperity.”
He sought to justify the army’s seizure of energy, saying: “Similar to the challenges you encountered during the 2020 election of the United States, Myanmar also experienced major electoral fraud and significant irregularities.”
Min Aung Hlaing mentioned he “sincerely appreciated” Mr. Trump’s transfer.
The junta is more and more depending on its allies China and Russia for financial and army help.
Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes arms with Myanmar’s army chief Min Aung Hlaing throughout their assembly on the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, March 4, 2025.
PAVEL BEDNYAKOV/POOL/AFP/Getty
Min Aung Hlaing requested Mr. Trump to “reconsider easing and lifting the economic sanctions imposed on Myanmar,” and sought a tariff of 10-20%.
He thanked Mr. Trump for the “encouraging invitation to continue participating in the extraordinary Economy of the United States, the Number One Market in the World.”
Mr. Trump’s punitive tariff letters have left many countries scrambling to safe last-minute offers with Washington earlier than they arrive into drive subsequent month.
Extra from CBS Information
