Myanmar’s military-backed president, Min Aung Hlaing, arrived at Techo International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Friday morning for a two-day diplomatic visit. State-run MRTV television confirmed the arrival, marking the latest step in the military leader’s efforts to normalize international relations and secure legitimacy following his rise to power in April, which followed an election that critics argue was constructed to consolidate the military’s control.
This trip represents the fourth time Min Aung Hlaing has visited an ASEAN member state as he attempts to repair regional ties that were severely damaged after he ousted the government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. During his time as army chief and subsequent leader, Min Aung Hlaing has faced significant diplomatic isolation, including being barred from high-level ASEAN meetings due to his failure to adhere to the bloc's peace plan for Myanmar. That peace plan required an end to violence, dialogue among all parties, mediation via an ASEAN envoy, the provision of humanitarian aid, and access for the envoy to engage with all relevant stakeholders.
In his inauguration address, Min Aung Hlaing committed to restoring normal engagement with ASEAN and strengthening international relations. Beyond this current visit to Cambodia, where he is expected to meet with Senate President Hun Sen, Prime Minister Hun Manet, and other senior officials, he has traveled to India, China, Laos, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Russia, and Vietnam to seek foreign investment and diplomatic support.
Cambodia previously played a pivotal role in ASEAN's conflict-resolution efforts in 2022, when then-Prime Minister Hun Sen served as the bloc's rotating chair and became the first foreign leader to visit Myanmar following the military takeover. Despite this history, the current visit has drawn sharp criticism. The Khmer Movement for Democracy, an organization of exiled Cambodian opposition leaders, condemned the event, with president Mu Sochua stating that the visit must not be used as a "diplomatic back door into ASEAN" for a leader who lacks democratic legitimacy.
Additionally, the human rights group Fortify Rights urged Cambodia to cancel the visit, arguing it provides political legitimacy to the military regime. The organization further called for Cambodian authorities to arrest Min Aung Hlaing and surrender him to the International Criminal Court, noting that the court’s prosecutor requested an arrest warrant against him in 2024 regarding alleged crimes against humanity committed against Rohingya Muslims in western Myanmar.
