India seeks to step up engagement as Myanmar elects new president

By Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury

Synopsis
Myanmar’s military leader Min Aung Hlaing becomes president. India watches closely as ties are strategic. India supports Myanmar’s development and conflict resolution. Dialogue is key to peace. Bilateral trade is growing,

especially in pulses. Cooperation in mining is also a focus. India aims for stability and resolution through talks.

Myanmar’s parliament has elected 2021 military leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing as the country’s president, solidifying his grip on power.

It has also elected two new vice-presidents – U Nyo Saw and Nan Ni Ni Aye.

A retired general of Myanmar’s armed forces, Tatmadaw, U Nyo Saw, is seen as influential in economic matters and is expected to steer policy under the president’s guidance. Nan Ni Ni Aye, an ethnic minority representative, is expected to push efforts on ethnic reconciliation.

Min Aung Hlaing’s elevation is being closely tracked by India, which shares a more than 1,600-kilometre border with Myanmar.

Myanmar sits at the intersection of India’s key foreign policy initiatives – Act East, Neighbourhood First and Indo-Pacific – making bilateral ties multi-layered and strategic.

India is willing to support Myanmar’s development objectives and help find a solution to the internal conflict that is “Myanmar-led, Myanmar-owned and best suited for Myanmar”, a person familiar with bilateral ties said.

New Delhi believes a purely security-based approach, without parallel political engagement, has limitations. It expects the recent elections and formation of a new government to open the way for dialogue. Meaningful talks based on compromise are needed to achieve durable peace and stability, said experts on bilateral relations.

India’s interest lies in stability, cessation of violence and resolution of issues through dialogue in Myanmar, they said. New Delhi has been involved in Myanmar’s democratic transition and has engaged with multiple stakeholders on capacity building and sharing experience on democratic systems.

Bilateral cooperation spans political, security, defence, trade, investment, connectivity, development assistance and humanitarian support. India was among the first responders to natural disasters in Myanmar, including Cyclone Mocha in 2023, Typhoon Yagi in 2024 and the Mandalay earthquake in 2025.

Trade between the two countries has expanded, with annual bilateral trade rising 22.9 per cent to $2.15 billion in FY25. Myanmar’s exports stood at $1.53 billion, while India’s exports were $614.3 million. Pulses accounted for about 77 per cent of Myanmar’s exports to India and grew 29.1 per cent during the year. India is Myanmar’s fourth-largest trading partner.

The rupee-kyat settlement mechanism has been operational since January 2024. There is scope to expand trade further, particularly if fuel and pharmaceutical exports from India are scaled up against Myanmar’s beans and pulses shipments under the mechanism.

Cooperation in mining, especially rare earths, is another potential area. India is ready to source heavy rare earths from Myanmar on a business-to-business basis and provide technological support and training for exploration and mining in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Link Summary:

* Myanmar’s New President

Myanmar’s military leader Min Aung Hlaing has been elected as the new president, solidifying his grip on power. Two new vice-presidents have also been elected.

* India’s Engagement with Myanmar

India is closely watching the developments in Myanmar, as the country shares a strategic 1,600-kiolmetre border with India. India is willing to support Myanmar’s development and help find a solution to the internal conflict through dialogue.

* Bilateral Cooperation

India’s engagement with Myanmar spans political, security, defense, trade, investment, connectivity, development assistance, and humanitarian support. India has been involved in Myanmar’s democratic transition and has engaged with multiple stakeholders on capacity building and sharing experience on democratic systems.