Myanmar Junta Leader Attends BIMSTEC Summit Amid Earthquake Crisis

Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing made a rare international appearance at the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok, just one week after a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck the country. The powerful quake—Myanmar’s deadliest in a century—has killed over 3,100 people, left more than 4,500 injured, and displaced thousands, according to the junta.

Despite being largely shunned globally since leading the 2021 military coup, Min Aung Hlaing seized the opportunity to engage in high-level diplomacy, meeting Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Discussions included disaster relief, regional cooperation, and repatriation of citizens trapped in scam centers.

The summit, part of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), brought together leaders from Thailand, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar. Min Aung Hlaing was prominently seated at the summit’s dinner, symbolizing a rare moment of regional engagement for Myanmar’s isolated regime.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has urged global support, stating the disaster has “supercharged the suffering” in a nation already crippled by civil war, economic collapse, and mass displacement. U.N. aid chief Tom Fletcher and special envoy Julie Bishop are visiting Myanmar to assess the situation.

Despite relief efforts, logistical hurdles, debris, and damaged infrastructure are slowing aid delivery. The World Food Programme warns that extreme heat and imminent monsoon rains could trigger disease outbreaks, especially in quake-affected areas like Mandalay, Sagaing, and Naypyitaw.

In a move welcomed by aid groups, the junta has declared a temporary ceasefire until April 22, aligning with similar actions from rebel forces and Myanmar’s shadow government. The quake, affecting an estimated 28 million people, could reshape international engagement with Myanmar amid ongoing humanitarian crises.