Myanmar’s military-backed president, Min Aung Hlaing, arrived in Cambodia on Friday morning, landing at Techo International Airport in the capital, Phnom Penh. The trip marks his fourth visit to an ASEAN member state as part of a broader, ongoing effort to normalize diplomatic relations and restore his standing within the 11-member regional organization.
Since being sworn in as president in April following an election that critics contend was structured to consolidate military control, Min Aung Hlaing has significantly increased his international engagements. This outreach follows years of diplomatic isolation triggered by his February 2021 ousting of Aung San Suu Kyi’s government while he served as the nation's army chief. Due to his failure to adhere to the ASEAN-mandated peace plan—which requires an end to violence, inclusive dialogue, and access for regional envoys—he has been barred from participating in top-level bloc meetings.
During his two-day visit to Cambodia, the president is scheduled to meet with Senate President Hun Sen, Prime Minister Hun Manet, and other senior officials. Cambodia previously played a central role in regional efforts to address the conflict in Myanmar, most notably in 2022 when then-Prime Minister Hun Sen became the first foreign leader to visit Naypyitaw following the military takeover.
Min Aung Hlaing has traveled extensively in recent months, including visits to India, China, Laos, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Russia, and Vietnam, where he met with leaders and sought to attract foreign investment through business forums. In his inauguration address, he explicitly pledged to strengthen international relations and restore normal engagement with ASEAN. However, his diplomatic campaign has faced significant opposition. The Khmer Movement for Democracy, composed of exiled Cambodian opposition figures, condemned the visit, with president Mu Sochua stating that the leader should not be allowed to use Phnom Penh as a "diplomatic back door" into ASEAN. She added, "He does not possess the democratic legitimacy that the red-carpet treatment of a head of state implies."
Human rights organization Fortify Rights has also called for the visit to be canceled, arguing that Cambodia should not provide political legitimacy to the military leader. The group further urged authorities to arrest Min Aung Hlaing and surrender him to the International Criminal Court, noting that the court’s prosecutor requested an arrest warrant in 2024 regarding alleged crimes against humanity committed against Rohingya Muslims in western Myanmar.
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