By The Diplomat | Created at 2026-08-18 09:49:50 | Updated at 2026-08-19 23:52:12
1 day ago
Myanmar’s military-appointed President Min Aung Hlaing is set to continue his diplomatic charm offensive, with reports of a possible trip to Cambodia surfacing as he departed on a state visit to Russia.
The possible Cambodia visit was referenced yesterday in a post on the Facebook page of the country’s Senate, later surfaced by a local journalist, which showed officials including Senate Secretary General Lay Samkol inspecting the Senate building in preparation for a visit by Min Aung Hlaing “in the future.”
The trip has not yet been officially confirmed, and the post did not mention any dates.
If it eventuates, the visit to Cambodia would be Min Aung Hlaing’s third to an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member state since taking office as president in April, after visits to Laos in early July and Thailand earlier this month.
In that time, Min Aung Hlaing has led a push for a normalization of Myanmar’s relationship with ASEAN, which has excluded it from its summits over its failure to implement the bloc’s Five-Point Consensus conflict resolution plan. This plan calls for a cessation of violence, access to humanitarian aid, and inclusive dialogue involving “all parties” to the country’s conflict.
The new government has taken an increasingly defiant line, dismissing the Consensus as an unwarranted “interference” in its internal affairs and demanding its full readmission to the 11-nation bloc. At the same time, it has sought to engage directly with willing ASEAN member states. Thailand in particular has been a close partner, brokering a meeting between Myanmar Foreign Minister Tin Maung Swe and hits ASEAN counterparts in Bangkok on July 12. During Min Aung Hlaing’s visit to Bangkok, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul “reaffirmed” Thailand’s commitment “to supporting and continuing to work closely with Myanmar for Myanmar’s full and equal participation in ASEAN mechanisms and processes.”
Since taking office, Min Aung Hlaing has also sought stronger ties with other important external partners, undertaking state visits to India and China in June.
The report of a possible Cambodia visit also came on the same day that Min Aung Hlaing departed on a state visit to Russia.
During the visit, the former general will hold talks with President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, and State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. He will also attend a Myanmar-Russia Economic Forum, where he will try to drum up investment.
According to a report in Myanmar state media, Min Aung Hlaing and Putin “will cordially discuss matters related to the further consolidation of existing friendly relations and strategic cooperation across all areas of mutual interest, including economic, security and social spheres.”
The Irrawaddy reported yesterday that Min Aung Hlaing would travel to Russia with a large entourage, which “includes cabinet ministers as well as business leaders who are close to his family and military regime.”
While the trip is Min Aung Hlaing’s first as president, he visited Russia on five other occasions after leading the military coup of February 2021, reflecting the growing importance of Russia in Myanmar’s foreign relations.
During the post-coup period, under the pressure of their mutual isolation from the West, relations between Naypyidaw and Moscow broadened out from their previous focus on defense cooperation and arms sales to encompass trade and investment, nuclear energy, and even space cooperation.
The Irrawaddy noted that Min Aung Hlaing would also be accompanied by Soe Myint Maung, the CEO of Myanmar’s Space Agency. It referenced “talk of satellite technology deals with Russia and even a plan to select and train Myanmar’s first astronaut there.”
