Putin hosts Min Aung Hlaing as Russia-Myanmar ties deepen

Moscow,UPDATED: Aug 18, 2026 19:48 IST

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday hosted Myanmar's military-backed leader Min Aung Hlaing for talks aimed at deepening cooperation between the two countries. At the start of the meeting, Putin said the two sides had cooperated on foreign policy and security issues and had also developed economic projects.

The visit comes as Min Aung Hlaing continues efforts to strengthen international recognition for his administration, which has remained largely isolated since the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. Western nations imposed political and economic sanctions after the takeover and the military's violent repression of the opposition, which has led to the deaths of thousands of civilians and sparked a civil war.

Russia and Myanmar have held joint military drills and drawn up plans for Russia to build a nuclear power plant, a seaport, oil refineries and other facilities in Myanmar. Russia has also defended Myanmar's military government in international forums, while Myanmar's ruling generals have generally supported Moscow's foreign policy agenda.

Russia, along with China, is a major supporter and arms supplier to Myanmar. Russian-made fighter jets have been used in attacks on areas controlled by ethnic minority groups, including many allied with pro-democracy resistance forces.

This is Min Aung Hlaing's seventh visit to Russia and the latest in a series of foreign trips that has also taken him to China, India, Laos and Thailand as he seeks to regain diplomatic standing. He last met Putin on the sidelines of Moscow's World Atomic Week Forum in September, while Putin has never visited Myanmar.

Min Aung Hlaing was inaugurated in April after a general election that United Nations experts and rights groups said was neither free nor fair. Critics called the phased polls held in December and January a sham aimed at tightening the military's grip on power while presenting it as a return to civilian rule, as Russia and Myanmar continue to expand ties.

With PTI Inputs

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