Myanmar’s military leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, arrived in Thailand on Thursday to attend a regional summit, marking a rare international trip amid his country’s ongoing crisis following a devastating earthquake.
Min Aung Hlaing, who led the military coup that ousted Myanmar’s democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, has faced widespread international criticism for his regime’s violent crackdown on opposition forces. Since the coup, he has been excluded from meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) due to his government’s repression.
This visit to Thailand is his first trip outside of Myanmar’s main allies—China, Russia, and Belarus—since attending a regional meeting in Indonesia in 2021. Upon arrival, he was welcomed by Thai Labor Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn and later participated in an official dinner with leaders from the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), which includes Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
The summit comes as Myanmar grapples with the aftermath of a massive 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck last week. The quake caused widespread destruction, killing over 3,000 people, injuring more than 4,700, and leaving 300 missing. The disaster has compounded Myanmar’s humanitarian crisis, with over 3 million displaced people and nearly 20 million in need of assistance even before the earthquake, according to the United Nations.
During the BIMSTEC ministerial meetings, disaster management was a key topic. The summit had been postponed from last year after Thailand’s then-prime minister was unexpectedly removed from office by a court decision.
The earthquake also impacted Bangkok, killing at least 22 people due to the collapse of a high-rise building under construction.
Min Aung Hlaing’s participation in the summit drew strong criticism from his opponents. The National Unity Government (NUG), formed by elected lawmakers who were barred from taking office after the coup, condemned his inclusion, stating that he lacks the legitimacy to represent Myanmar. The NUG also called for BIMSTEC to revoke his participation.
Activist group Justice for Myanmar criticized Thailand’s decision, claiming that inviting Min Aung Hlaing legitimizes the military junta and damages BIMSTEC’s reputation as a regional organization.
In response, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs defended its decision, emphasizing that the BIMSTEC charter requires member states to invite all leaders, regardless of their political standing.
Other prominent figures attending the summit include Muhammad Yunus, chief advisor to the Bangladesh government, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
