Coup Leader Says Myanmar Is a Democracy, Urges US to Drop Sanctions
Putschist president Min Aung Hlaing portrayed Myanmar as a democratic nation and urged the United States to help its fellow democracy by easing economic sanctions and helping to prevent attacks on his regime, in a recent high-profile interview with TIME magazine.
“We hope that the United States will not provide support to individuals or groups that encourage or facilitate violent attacks inside Myanmar,” Min Aung Hlaing said in his August interview with TIME, which was published in full on regime media.
In its article based on the interview, TIME noted that Min Aung Hlaing “isn’t shy in his hope that America First nativism offers him a lifeline.” It quoted him as saying: “It would be ideal if the U.S. could cooperate with us in fostering the peace, stability, and development essential for our people to successfully realize a fully democratic state.”
Min Aung Hlaing complained that sanctions had crippled banking operations, blocked access to funds and discouraged foreign investment, causing damage to Myanmar’s economy. He urged the U.S. to “objectively” assess Myanmar’s situation and reconsider the economic restrictions.
Analysts said his appeal reflects the junta’s desire to regain access to US$1 billion in Myanmar assets frozen by Washington.
Since the 2021 coup, Washington has imposed successive rounds of political and economic sanctions on the junta and its leaders, while backing Myanmar’s pro‑democracy movement. Measures include the Burma Act of 2022, and sanctions on two state banks—Myanma Foreign Trade Bank and Myanma Investment and Commercial Bank— in 2023, as well as the state‑owned energy company, Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise. The US has targeted more than 100 individuals and entities linked to the regime, while supporting Myanmar’s anti-regime movement and officially engaging with the National Unity Government.
The EU and UK have joined in sanctions, while Singapore’s UOB Bank suspended dealings with Myanmar banks, further tightening the junta’s access to foreign currency. Min Aung Hlaing, who has repeatedly complained of dollar dominance, told TIME that U.S. sanctions have forced his regime to settle trade with partners in local currencies. He pointed to ongoing discussions with China to settle trade directly in kyats and yuan.
During a cabinet meeting nearly three years ago, in October 2023, the coup leader accused Washington of destabilizing Myanmar by extensively helping what he called “insurgent groups” in the country. Washington has only one reason to do so, he said—to “contain” China. He went on to claim that Washington wanted to see a government it could control in Myanmar.
“I would like to urge the U.S. to prevent criticism and attempts by exiles to commit violence against us,” Min Aung Hlaing was quoted as saying by regime media.
Min Aung Hlaing’s regime has hired Washington‑based lobbying firm DCI for $3 million a year to rebuild ties with the U.S., though observers say results have been negligible.
Analysts say Washington is unlikely to lift sanctions unless the regime halts violence, respects human rights and releases political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi. It may also depend on how far Washington is willing to go in its bid to contain China in the region, curb Myanmar-based online scam operations that are defrauding American citizens of billions of dollars annually, and gain access to Myanmar’s rare earths, which are currently monopolized by China.
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