US quietly re-engages Myanmar junta after years of sanctions

Washington has held two rounds of talks with Myanmar's junta leader Min Aung Hlaing since last month, marking a notable thaw after sanctions were imposed following the 2021 coup. The shift suggests a strategic recalibration, likely driven by regional competition and countering Chinese influence, though the scope and conditions of engagement remain unclear. This reverses a stated US policy of isolating the military regime, signaling a potential realignment in Southeast Asian diplomacy.