Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing sets domestic agenda and seeks India engagement

Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing criticised the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' Five‑Point Consensus, saying the bloc had discriminated against Myanmar, and warned that the government would respond to non‑constructive actions case‑by‑case. He announced plans for by‑elections in 2027 for 172 constituencies missed in the previous poll, and outlined a push to boost the capacity of the military and police, continue conscription, and engage 13 ethnic armed organisations in talks. The administration also pledged to combat money‑laundering, arms smuggling, drug trafficking and online scam centres, and to allocate up to 15% of the national budget to education by 2028‑29.

Infrastructure priorities include the 1,400‑km India‑Myanmar‑Thailand highway, the 410‑km Mandalay‑Muse railway to the Chinese border, ten power projects such as the controversial Myitsone dam and a proposed nuclear plant, and support for tourism and agriculture. In his first state visit to India, Min Aung Hlaing met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior officials to discuss trade, connectivity, maritime security, rare‑earth supplies and cyber security. The visit signals a shift in India’s cautious stance toward the junta and aligns with QUAD interests in countering Chinese influence and tackling cyber‑scam operations from Myanmar.