Myanmar Military Leader Praises Trump, Seeks US Sanctions Relief

Myanmar's military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, has praised Donald Trump in a rare letter, drawing a parallel between his own 2021 coup and Trump's unsubstantiated claims of election fraud during the 2020 US election. This correspondence followed a letter from Trump announcing a 40% tariff on Myanmar goods, which the junta interpreted as the first public US recognition of its rule. Min Aung Hlaing thanked Trump for his 'strong leadership' and for cutting funds to US-backed media outlets like Voice of America and Radio Free Asia, which have provided independent coverage of Myanmar's conflict. He requested that Trump consider lifting or easing sanctions imposed after the military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. US officials, however, do not formally engage with the junta and have rejected both leaders' claims of election fraud. The junta's outreach is seen as an attempt to gain international legitimacy beyond support from China and Russia.