Myanmar's Min Aung Hlaing takes first foreign tour as leader, with visit to India

Myanmar’s newly installed President Min Aung Hlaing has embarked on his first official foreign tour since assuming office, travelling to India for a five-day visit that underscores the strategic importance of bilateral ties amid ongoing international isolation. The high-level trip, confirmed by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, will include meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu, as well as engagement with leading Indian business figures. Scheduled from Saturday to Wednesday, the visit follows Min Aung Hlaing’s controversial rise to power after the military overthrew the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, a move widely condemned by Western governments and human rights organisations.

The visit comes at a time of deepening internal conflict in Myanmar, where a protracted civil war has displaced millions and entrenched resistance to military rule. Despite the violence, the junta proceeded with elections in April, which were dismissed as illegitimate by international observers due to widespread disenfranchisement and the exclusion of Aung San Suu Kyi’s party. Analysts suggest that India’s decision to host Min Aung Hlaing reflects a pragmatic assessment in New Delhi that the military leadership is firmly entrenched in Naypyidaw. India’s Foreign Minister had already attended the president’s swearing-in ceremony, signalling a willingness to engage with the regime despite its controversial origins.

Security and economic cooperation are expected to dominate discussions during the visit. The two countries share a 1,000-kilometre border marked by porous terrain, making cross-border insurgency, drug trafficking, and arms smuggling pressing concerns for both sides. India has long sought to curb militant activity in its northeastern states, while Myanmar faces persistent challenges from armed resistance groups opposing military rule. Additionally, New Delhi is reportedly interested in securing access to Myanmar’s rare earth deposits, a strategic resource in which China currently dominates the supply chain. However, any meaningful cooperation on mineral extraction may be complicated by regional geopolitical sensitivities.

While some observers anticipated Min Aung Hlaing’s first foreign trip would be to China—Myanmar’s traditional ally and a key backer of the junta—delays in scheduling suggest both sides sought more time to finalise substantive agendas. The visit to India thus marks a calculated step by the Myanmar leadership to diversify diplomatic engagements and reinforce regional legitimacy. As the junta continues to face international condemnation and internal unrest, its outreach to New Delhi signals an effort to secure economic and political support while navigating a complex regional landscape.