Myanmar's President Min Aung Hlaing wrapped up a two-day visit to Thailand on Friday, his first visit to the neighboring nation since assuming the role of civilian leader. The trip was aimed at recasting himself as the head of a civilian government after years of diplomatic isolation, according to experts who spoke to DW.
His reception on landing in Bangkok on Thursday had all the pomp and circumstance befitting a visiting head of state — red carpet, honor guard, blaring national anthems and smiling photo ops with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
"Naypyidaw equates engagement with acceptance," said Moe Thuzar, head of the Myanmar Studies Program at Singapore's ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, referring to Myanmar's capital. "Min Aung Hlaing is seeking to leverage Naypyidaw's space in bilateral relations with neighbours' specific interests to secure greater acceptance of his administration from external partners."
Wai Yan Phyo Naing, a visiting scholar at Taiwan's Academia Sinica, said that for Min Aung Hlaing, visiting Thailand is about finding legitimacy in the ASEAN region. "Thailand is a founder of ASEAN and has a big voice in ASEAN," he said.
Since the retired general seized power in a 2021 coup that toppled a democratically elected government, a brutal civil war between the military and armed resistance groups has killed an estimated 100,000 people and displaced well over 3 million, according to monitoring group Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED).
Western countries have imposed several rounds of sanctions on Min Aung Hlaing's regime over alleged war crimes and other human rights abuses, charges the government rejects. In 2024, the then-chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court requested an arrest warrant for Min Aung Hlaing himself for crimes against humanity committed against Rohingya Muslims.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which traditionally emphasizes non-interference in another member's domestic affairs, has barred him or his foreign minister from attending its leaders' summits. ASEAN did not officially endorse Myanmar's last elections and still insists that Myanmar first make meaningful progress on a peace plan agreed to a few months after the 2021 coup — a plan Min Aung Hlaing has dismissed repeatedly, most recently last week.
A leader in search of recognition
Min Aung Hlaing's visit to Thailand came as he seeks to break out of Myanmar's growing isolation. Hoping to improve its standing, Myanmar held staggered elections in December and January that were widely criticized by the United Nations and Western governments as a sham designed to legitimize continued military rule. The military-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party won more than 80% of seats in those elections. Parliament subsequently elected Min Aung Hlaing president in April.
Since becoming president, Min Aung Hlaing has paid official visits to India, China, Laos and Thailand, trying to bolster his image as a civilian leader.
"Min Aung Hlaing is a military dictator who needs cooperation from economic elites," said independent Myanmar analyst David Mathieson.
Economic and military ties with Thailand
Thailand and Myanmar share a 2,400 kilometer (1,490-mile) land border. Thailand is among Myanmar's top trade partners and foreign investors, including in energy projects. A Thai firm operates two of Myanmar's main gas fields, which supply much of Thailand's natural gas.
The visit included a business forum on Thursday for Thai and Myanmar firms. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul welcomed Min Aung Hlaing to Bangkok earlier this month and stressed that his country wanted to end the war and restore peace. The Thai foreign minister defended hosting Myanmar officials by saying it is "not about legitimacy; it's about reality."
On Thursday, Thai military chief Ukris Boontanondha met Myanmar military leader Ye Win Oo at a Bangkok hotel. Talks focused on cooperation on the border, joint efforts to tackle the illicit drug trade and cyberscam networks, and military cooperation on counterterrorism, training, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
A defiant 100-day speech
On Friday, Min Aung Hlaing marked his government's first 100 days in office with a speech defending his record and outlining a five-year road map. Addressing more than 900 lawmakers, officials and military representatives at Parliament in Naypyitaw, he said his government had laid important foundations by pursuing two priorities — restoring peace and stability and promoting national development.
He said he would spend two years accelerating efforts to build a modern and developed nation based on democracy and a federal system, followed by another three years carrying out build-up at full speed.
Min Aung Hlaing said special elections would be held in 2027 in constituencies across 102 townships that were unable to vote during the three-phase election held late last year because of armed conflict. He also said the government would continue implementing the military's conscription law while strengthening the armed forces and police.
He claimed his administration had invited armed groups fighting the military to lay down their weapons and had held talks with 13 ethnic armed groups.
He criticised a five-point consensus reached by Southeast Asian leaders in 2021 to end Myanmar's civil strife, saying it had been issued without the agreement of all member states and that ASEAN had discriminated against Myanmar.
He also said the government would proceed with 10 power generation projects, including the controversial Myitsone hydropower project, which was suspended more than a decade ago after protests over its possible environmental impact, while continuing efforts to build a nuclear power plant. He added that more than 72,000 foreigners linked to scam operations had been repatriated to 58 countries.
Voices of dissent
Analysts and opposition figures remain skeptical of Min Aung Hlaing's promises. "No meaningful change can be expected from the junta," said Nan Lin, a spokesperson of the General Strike Coordination Body. "They will use the conscription law to control young people through fear."
After the 2021 coup, Myanmar's military detained elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Min Aung Hlaing handed the office of military leader to Ye Win Oo when he was sworn in as president in April.