NEW DELHI: Myanmar’s President Min Aung Hlaing arrived in neighboring India on Saturday for his first foreign trip since switching roles last month from military junta chief to civilian leader.
The 69-year-old general has rarely traveled abroad since coming to power in a 2021 coup, when the military overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
His assumption of the presidency in April followed elections in which major opposition parties were excluded or absent. The result has not been recognized internationally, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations — of which Myanmar is a member — has distanced itself from the electoral process, saying it did not endorse or recognize it.
During his five-day trip, Min Aung Hlaing will meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the visit is expected to “deepen the multifaceted relations between the two countries,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
India is Min Aung Hlaing’s first foreign destination in his new role as he seeks international legitimacy while facing an International Criminal Court prosecutor’s request for an arrest warrant over alleged crimes against humanity related to the Rohingya.
