Border Fighting Tops Agenda at Annual Thai-Myanmar Military Talks

Myanmar’s Commander-in-Chief Gen. Ye Win Oo and his Thai counterpart Gen. Ukris Boontanondha convened the 9th Thailand-Myanmar High Level Committee (HLC) meeting in Bangkok on Thursday, focused on border stability, cybercrimes, counter-terrorism, and joint military training.

The Thai military has been criticised by Thai politicians and international rights groups for hosting the controversial Myanmar general, who has overseen an escalating campaign responsible for hundreds of civilian deaths since his appointment in March. The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Ye Win Oo for his role in the 2021 coup that ousted the elected government of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

The two neighboring countries have maintained strong military relations for decades, with Myanmar officers regularly sent to Thailand for military administration and management courses as well as intelligence and surveillance training.