Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Myanmar's President Min Aung Hlaing attend a welcoming ceremony at the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, August 6, 2026.
Athit Perawongmetha/REUTERS
While Thailand's engagement effort could strengthen its influence within ASEAN as a bridge to Myanmar, some analysts say it needs to avoid appearing to legitimize Min Aung Hlaing when there is no progress on ASEAN's peace plan
BANGKOK, Thailand – Myanmar’s junta chief turned President Min Aung Hlaing received a red-carpet treatment on an official visit to Thailand on Thursday, August 6, part of efforts by Bangkok to push for re-engagement between its war-torn neighbor and the regional bloc ASEAN.
The retired general, who first came to power in a 2021 coup, is the subject of a raft of Western sanctions and has sought international legitimacy since becoming Myanmar’s president in April, which followed an election dominated by an army-backed party in the absence of any viable opposition.
