Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing received a red-carpet treatment as he began an official visit to Thailand on Thursday, part of efforts by Bangkok to push for re-engagement between its war-torn neighbour and Asean.
The retired general, who first came to power in a 2021 coup, is the subject of Western sanctions and has sought international legitimacy since becoming president in April, which followed an election dominated by an army-backed party and in the absence of any viable opposition.
At an arrival ceremony in Bangkok, a military band played the national anthems of both countries before Min Aung Hlaing, dressed in a dark business suit, walked a red carpet with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to inspect an honour guard.
With a civil war raging in Myanmar following the 2021 coup, Thailand is pursuing “calibrated re-engagement” in the hope that its neighbour will implement a stalled peace plan led by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which has barred Myanmar’s leaders from its summits.
At a meeting between officials of Myanmar and Thailand on Thursday, Min Aung Hlaing pledged to pursue peace and improve ties with Asean.
“Myanmar is on the path of democracy and heading towards a better future,” he said.
“In international relations, as we have worked to strengthen friendly relations for the benefit and interests of the public, we will also work toward fostering better relations with Asean.”
Fourth trip abroad
Thailand is the fourth country Min Aung Hlaing has visited as president after China, India and Laos in a quest for recognition as the 11-member Asean, which did not endorse Myanmar’s election, stands firm behind a faltering peace initiative that Naypyitaw has largely ignored.
Maria Theresa Lazaro, the Philippine foreign minister and Asean’s special envoy on Myanmar, said last month that normalisation of ties with the bloc was “still far off”, as Nay Pyi Taw’s compliance with the peace initiative, which includes ending hostilities and starting dialogue between warring groups, was still being assessed.
Min Aung Hlaing has stressed his top priority as president is ending a civil war between the military he once led and various rebel groups, which has killed an estimated 100,000 people.
However, Myanmar’s military has since sharply escalated attacks on civilians, including an intensified aerial bombing campaign, a conflict monitor said last week.
While Thailand’s engagement effort could strengthen its influence within Asean as a bridge to Myanmar, some analysts say it needs to avoid appearing to legitimise Min Aung Hlaing when there is no progress on Asean’s peace plan.
Engagement or endorsement?
“There is a fine line between re-engaging and endorsing Min Aung Hlaing’s legitimacy,” said Dulyapak Preecharush, a Southeast Asia expert at Thammasat University in Bangkok.
“When relations become close and friendly, they can naturally drift in that direction. The perception that Thailand is validating or conferring legitimacy on Min Aung Hlaing could rise very quickly.”
Myanmar’s government on Monday allowed Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been detained since her government was ousted in 2021, to meet a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross after years of uncertainty over her health, wellbeing and whereabouts.
The Asean special envoy has sought unsuccessfully to get access to Aung San Suu Kyi, but the unexpected Red Cross visit could support Thailand’s argument for engagement, according to Dulyapak.
Min Aung Hlaing will join Mr Anutin later on Thursday at a business summit, as Thailand seeks to revive its economic ties with resource-rich Myanmar, which include ventures in hotels, banking, manufacturing and energy that make it one of the top foreign investors in the country.
