ASEAN Beat | Diplomacy | Southeast Asia

Indian PM Hosts Head of Myanmar’s Military Government in New Delhi

New Delhi has defended its decision to engage with Min Aung Hlaing, who led the coup against Myanmar’s democratically elected government in 2021.

Min Aung Hlaing, the head of Myanmar’s military-backed government (left), and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, India, June. 1, 2026.

The leader of Myanmar’s military-backed government met yesterday with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, during which both leaders pledged to strengthen cooperation in a host of domains.

Min Aung Hlaing arrived in India on Saturday for a five-day state visit, his first to the country since leading the military coup of 2021, with a large delegation in tow. Min Aung Hlaing last visited India in 2019, in his capacity as the commander-in-chief of the Myanmar armed forces.

Unusually, Modi and Min Aung Hlaing did not address the media after their summit. But a joint statement issued after the meeting said that the two leaders “underscored the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation.”

Their discussion ranged over trade, defense, and security cooperation, border management, and “bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest,” the statement added. Modi and Min Aung Hlaing also agreed t0 expand collaboration in technology, energy, and critical minerals, and to accelerate major connectivity projects.

In particular, Min Aung Hlaing also assured Modi that he would not allow the use of his country’s territory by groups that pose a security threat to India.

“The President reiterated Myanmar’s assurance that its territory would not be permitted to be used against India’s security interests,” the joint statement read. Modi responded that India was “a steadfast and trusted partner of Myanmar” and “remained committed to deepening security cooperation between the two countries.”

Both sides also “agreed to continue close engagement at all levels.”

During the trip is scheduled to pay visits to Bodh Gaya and Mumbai for “business and industry interactions and site visits,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on May 28.

The trip is Min Aung Hlaing’s first since he was sworn in as president in April, following a multi-phase election that was widely criticized as a ruse to perpetuate the military’s hold on power. The election was boycotted by many opposition parties, and dominated by the military’s political cutout, the Union Solidarity and Development Party. It was also canceled in many parts of the country that were affected by conflict or under the control of armed resistance groups.

India’s decision to receive Min Aung Hlaing with full state honors has unsurprisingly prompted controversy, with domestic and regional civil society groups condemning the decision.

“Min Aung Hlaing is not Myanmar’s legitimate president,” Mercy Chriesty Barends, the chairperson of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights, said in a statement. “He is the architect of a brutal coup that overthrew a democratically elected government, and has since presided over a campaign........

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