Myanmar president visits Russia for talks with Putin on economic and security ties

Myanmar’s President Min Aung Hlaing departed for Russia on Monday for an official visit expected to include talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to Myanmar state media. The trip marks his first official visit to Russia since assuming the presidency in April.

Min Aung Hlaing traveled with a delegation of government officials, with discussions set to focus on strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation in economic and security sectors, state media reported. He is also scheduled to attend a Myanmar-Russia business forum, providing a platform for officials and business representatives to discuss economic ties.

Russia has been a key international partner for Myanmar since the military seized power in February 2021, maintaining diplomatic and defense ties despite Western sanctions. The visit follows earlier high-level engagements, including a meeting between Min Aung Hlaing and Putin in Moscow in March 2025, where discussions covered political and economic cooperation.

This is Min Aung Hlaing’s fifth official trip as president, following visits to India, China, Laos, and Thailand. As junta chief, he previously visited Russia four times, including a June 2021 security conference and meetings in 2022 and 2025. During the 2025 visit, the two countries signed an agreement to construct a small-scale nuclear power plant in Myanmar and a memorandum on investment cooperation for the Dawei Special Economic Zone, which includes plans for a port and oil refinery.

Defense ties have expanded in recent years, with Moscow providing military training, university scholarships, and arms sales to Myanmar. Russia has also committed to training Myanmar’s first cosmonaut. The delegation for this visit includes the chief minister of the Tanintharyi region, where Dawei is located, and the head of Myanmar’s aerospace agency, state media said.