Symbolic deals and diplomatic splits: Richard Horsey on Russia–Myanmar ties

High-profile economic agreements between Russia and Myanmar serve primarily as symbolic diplomacy rather than tangible investments, while regime leader Min Aung Hlaing’s regional tour reflects a calculated push for political normalization, according to Richard Horsey, Senior Asia Advisor at the International Crisis Group and an expert on Myanmar.

In an exclusive interview with DVB detailing the geopolitical dynamics following the 2021 military coup, Horsey analyzed the limits of Moscow’s regional ambitions, the reality of the stalled Dawei Special Economic Zone (SEZ), shifting U.N. credential battles, and growing divisions within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).