//Myanmar's Junta Chief Meets Foreign Leaders as Military Limits Aid//

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//Myanmar's Junta Chief Meets Foreign Leaders as Military Limits Aid//

Nepal's Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh Interim Government, Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Bhutan's Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay, Myanmar's junta leader Min Aung Hlaing and Sri Lanka?s Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya pose during the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, in Bangkok, Thailand, April 4, 2025. Thailand Government House/

Myanmar’s military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, recently attended a major regional summit in Bangkok, marking a rare diplomatic engagement since his country descended into turmoil following the 2021 coup. The summit, hosted by BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation), brought together key leaders from India, Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan. While the junta chief held bilateral discussions with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the United Nations criticized the military’s continued restrictions on humanitarian aid in areas devastated by a deadly earthquake that claimed over 3,100 lives.

Myanmar's junta leader Min Aung Hlaing attends the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, in Bangkok, Thailand, April 4, 2025. Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs/

The military’s actions have exacerbated the suffering of Myanmar’s population, who have already endured years of conflict and economic collapse. Meanwhile, India called for a permanent ceasefire in the war-torn nation and urged for a democratic transition through inclusive elections. However, critics argue that any planned election under the junta’s rule would lack credibility and serve only to prolong military control. As tensions continue to rise, international pressure mounts on Myanmar’s leadership to allow unhindered humanitarian assistance and to seek a genuine political resolution.

Myanmar's junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra arrive ahead of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, in Bangkok, Thailand, April 4, 2025. Thailand Government House/

Amidst these diplomatic maneuvers, local communities struggle with deepening hardships, further worsened by the military’s suppression of dissent and violent crackdowns on opposition forces. The coming weeks may determine whether international diplomatic engagement will yield any tangible improvements in Myanmar’s dire humanitarian and political situation.