President of Myanmar, Min Aung Hlaing made an official visit to India on May 30-June 3. The invitation extended to him constituted a significant and realistic initiative to safeguard India’s interests. This was because Min Aung Hlaing was the commander-in-chief of Myanmar’s armed forces in 2021 when they staged a coup and threw out the civilian and elected government whose actual leader was Aung San Suu Kyi. Since then Hlaing has actually been a persona-non-grata with the advanced democracies. Hence, India’s decision to consolidate his ‘legitimacy’ and through him that of the military rulers of Myanmar has been looked upon negatively by them. The Myanmar opposition too has been deeply unhappy with India accepting the military authorities; Min Aung Hlaing’s visit to India has deeply disappointed them.

What the Western democracies forget is their own record of doing business throughout history and also since the Second World War with the most brutal dictators when it suited their interest to do so. Hence, it is hypocritical of them to virtually ask India to overlook its own interests and become evangelical for democracy. India has vital security, geo-strategic, economic and commercial interests in Myanmar with which it shares a border which extends over 1640 kilometres. Several sensitive areas of this country are adjacent to Myanmar. Hence, a cooperative relationship with any government in power in Myanmar is necessary for India. 

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