Key facts
- Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing is visiting Thailand on Thursday.
- Bangkok is advocating for re-engagement between Myanmar and ASEAN.
- Myanmar's leaders have been excluded from ASEAN summits since the 2021 coup.
- Min Aung Hlaing seeks international legitimacy after staging the coup.
- Thailand's approach is described as 'calibrated re-engagement' to maintain dialogue.
- Thailand is a significant foreign investor in Myanmar, especially in the energy sector.
Myanmar's President Min Aung Hlaing is set to visit Thailand, a move aimed at bolstering his international legitimacy amid ongoing conflict and seeking to revive economic ties. Bangkok is positioning this visit as a step towards 'calibrated re-engagement' with Myanmar and its regional bloc, ASEAN, from which Myanmar's leaders have been barred since the 2021 coup.
Min Aung Hlaing, who led the coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi, has been seeking international recognition since becoming president. Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated the policy aims to keep communication channels open and encourage compliance with ASEAN's stalled peace initiative. Analysts caution that Thailand must balance engagement with avoiding endorsement of Min Aung Hlaing's legitimacy, especially given the continued escalation of attacks on civilians in Myanmar.
The visit also carries economic significance, as Thailand, a major investor in Myanmar particularly in the energy sector, aims to boost trade and investment. However, Thai exports to Myanmar have seen a sharp decline since the pandemic and the 2021 coup due to forex controls and the impact of the civil war on border trade. The business forum accompanying the visit is expected to focus on these economic aspects, though direct major economic impact is not anticipated.