Key facts
- US Assistant Secretary of State Michael Vance met Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing on Sept. 15-16.
- The meeting aimed to secure the release of detained US citizen Adam Castillo.
- The US has lifted some sanctions on individuals supporting Myanmar's junta.
- Myanmar's regime hired lobbying firm DCI and Roger Stone.
- The US has reduced aid to Myanmar's opposition groups.
- Myanmar has significant rare earth reserves.
A top US official, Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research Michael Vance, met with Myanmar's military leader Min Aung Hlaing in Nay Pyi Taw on September 15-16. This marks the most senior US contact with the regime since the 2021 coup. The meeting's stated purpose was to secure the release of detained US citizen Adam Castillo, but other matters of mutual interest were likely discussed. Vance had previously met Burmese officials in Tokyo and representatives of opposition groups.
Signs of a policy shift in US-Myanmar relations emerged last year when then-President Donald Trump sent a letter to Min Aung Hlaing proposing significant tariffs, which the Myanmar leader welcomed. The regime subsequently hired Washington lobbying firm DCI and controversial lobbyist Roger Stone. Adam Castillo, a former US marine and Trump supporter, also advocated for re-engagement, arguing that sanctions had failed and that Myanmar was a strategic interest for the US, particularly for rare earth minerals.
Around the same time, the State Department issued guidance to US embassies to avoid commenting on the fairness of foreign elections, leading to a muted US response to Myanmar's recent general election. The US has also lifted some sanctions and significantly reduced aid to opposition groups through the dismantling of USAID. However, experts note that practical changes in US-Myanmar relations may be less significant than headlines suggest, with sanctions relief for the regime remaining a difficult prospect.