Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the head of Myanmar's ruling junta, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin. During the meeting, Modi conveyed India's hope that the upcoming elections in Myanmar will be conducted in a fair and inclusive manner, with the participation of all stakeholders.
India's interest in Myanmar stems from the country's strategic location and its implications for India's northeastern region. Myanmar shares a 1,640-kilometer-long border with several northeastern states of India, including Nagaland and Manipur, which have been affected by militancy. The unrest in Myanmar, following the military coup in 2021 that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, has raised concerns in India, particularly regarding security.
Modi emphasized the importance India attaches to its relationship with Myanmar, highlighting its role in India's "Neighbourhood First," "Act East," and "Indo-Pacific" policies. He also reiterated India's support for a "Myanmar-led and Myanmar-owned peace process," emphasizing that peaceful dialogue and consultation are the only way forward. Modi also said that progress in ongoing connectivity projects would foster greater interaction between the people of both countries and promote regional cooperation and integration, aligning with India's Act East policy. Furthermore, Modi affirmed India's readiness to support Myanmar's developmental needs.
The military government in Myanmar announced that multi-phase elections would commence on December 28. However, skepticism persists regarding the fairness and inclusivity of these elections. Opposition groups have indicated they may boycott the elections, and Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy will not be permitted to contest. Since the coup, Myanmar has been embroiled in a civil war, with armed resistance groups launching coordinated operations against the junta in October 2023 and capturing border trade points and key territories.
The meeting between Modi and Hlaing is significant as India seeks to counterbalance China's influence in the region. According to geopolitical expert Brahma Chellaney, Myanmar has historically been a peaceful neighbor to India, and Modi's support for a "Myanmar-led and Myanmar-owned peace process" contrasts with potential meddling by the United States, which Chellaney warns could destabilize India's northeast. Chellaney suggests that while the U.S. supports military-linked regimes in Pakistan and Bangladesh, it is attempting to topple Myanmar's junta, arming rebels whose activities have affected India's Manipur state and fueled ethnic unrest.
During the meeting, the two leaders also reviewed bilateral ties and discussed various aspects of cooperation, including development partnerships, defense and security, border management, and border trade issues. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri noted that security and border issues were discussed. Modi described Myanmar as a "vital pillar" of India's Act East and Neighbourhood First policies and expressed optimism about boosting ties in trade, connectivity, energy, rare earth mining, and security.
