Name? Min Aung Hlaing
Westphalian identity? Burmese
Age? 65
Why is he in the news? Earlier this week, US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, declared that General Hlaing’s military had committed genocide against the Rohingya people. While the rest of the world acts only on the crisis in Ukraine, Blinken’s announcement brings Myanmar back into the spotlight.
Why do we care? Hlaing has become closer with Vladimir Putin since the US first restricted the junta government. Following the fated February 1st coup, Russia not only sent Hlaing’s military regime $14.7 million dollars worth of radar equipment, but was also the first country to send a high-profile foreign official to visit Myanmar after the coup. It therefore comes as no surprise that General Hlaing’s junta government would back Russia’s invasion of Ukraine… Contrarily, the opposition National Unity Government (NUG), who continues to represent Myanmar at the UN, has denounced Russia’s invasion; complicating relations between Hlaing and Putin.
Why should you care? The US designation of genocide in Myanmar increases global pressure on Hlaing’s military-led government as it faces similar accusations at the International Court of Justice. Ultimately, Blinken’s statement stands to strengthen Gambia’s case at the ICJ; a case you should care 6/10 about.
Who else cares? President Putin doesn’t really care about Hlaing being accused of genocide but rather how it will affect Russian arms exports to Myanmar and by extension, Southeast Asia. Providing 26% of the region’s weapons, Russia is currently the biggest arm’s supplier to Southeast Asia. Therefore, losing a key partner in Hlaing is bad news for Putin.
Any further comments? Myanmar and Ukraine have similar landmasses and population sizes as well as share the “geopolitical predicament of bordering extremely powerful authoritarian neighbours.” As a result, most Burmese citizens as well as the NUG, have pledged their full support and sympathy to the Ukrainian cause—eager to see Ukrainians maintain their freedom as the Burmese people struggle for their own.
