Burma War: The Junta’s Arms Pipeline and How to Stop It

Antonio Graceffo

The war in Burma is being fought on extremely asymmetrical terms. The junta enjoys unrestricted access to weapons, while the resistance is barred by international law from purchasing or transporting arms through third countries. In addition to its complete air superiority, the State Security and Peace Commission (SSPC) has ample supplies of ammunition, artillery shells, and small arms. By contrast, resistance fighters are forced to scrounge for weapons and often withdraw from battles, ceding territory simply because they run out of bullets.

Although the UN, ASEAN, EU, and other international bodies acknowledge that the junta routinely bombs IDP camps, schools, and hospitals, no binding UN Security Council sanctions have been imposed on Burma. The UN General Assembly’s 2021 resolution urging member states to halt arms sales, supported by 119 of 193 nations, was non-binding and carries no enforcement power. In March 2025, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk again called for an arms embargo and targeted sanctions, particularly on jet fuel and dual-use goods, but the Security Council remains blocked by China and Russia, both major arms suppliers to the junta and permanent members with veto power.

The European Union has maintained an arms embargo on Myanmar since the 1990s, banning the export of weapons, munitions, military equipment, and any items that could be used for internal repression. In 2018, the EU expanded these restrictions to include dual-use goods intended for military or border police use, surveillance equipment, and military training or cooperation. These measures were most recently extended until April 30, 2026.

However, the embargo has little practical effect on the junta’s ability to obtain weapons. EU member states were never major arms suppliers to Myanmar; the junta’s primary sources are Russia, China, Singapore, India, and Thailand—none of which are bound by EU law. The EU has no authority to enforce its embargo outside its own borders, and weapons can still reach Myanmar through transit routes in countries such as Singapore and Thailand.