US begins direct talks with Myanmar military leaders

The Trump administration has initiated direct talks with Myanmar’s military-installed government, marking a significant reversal of previous US policies aimed at isolating the country’s generals following the 2021 coup.

Michael Vance, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research, led the outreach. During a meeting in Naypyitaw on September 15-16, Vance met with coup leader-turned-president Min Aung Hlaing. The discussions focused on shutting down scam centers targeting Americans and securing the release of American businessman Adam Castillo. The engagement may also extend to discussions regarding Myanmar’s rare-earth mineral deposits.

Despite this diplomatic shift toward transactional engagement, Min Aung Hlaing remains under US sanctions for human rights abuses, including the 2016-2017 Rohingya genocide. This outreach follows a period of intense violence, including a recent military airstrike in Rakhine state that killed over 50 people.