Myanmar junta thanks Trump after recognition in tariff letter

Myanmar’s army chief lauded Donald Trump and requested him to raise sanctions, the junta stated Friday (July 11, 2025) after a tariff letter from the U.S. president believed to be Washington’s first public recognition of its rule.

Min Aung Hlaing endorsed Mr. Trump’s false declare that the 2020 U.S. election was stolen and thanked him for shutting down funding to U.S.-backed media offering unbiased protection of conflict-wracked Myanmar.

The army ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected civilian authorities in 2021, plunging the nation into civil struggle.

The U.S. State Department sanctioned the junta chief and others for utilizing “violence and terror to oppress” Burmese individuals and “denying them the ability to freely choose their own leaders”.

U.S. diplomats don’t formally have interaction with the junta, however Mr. Trump despatched a letter to Min Aung Hlaing by identify on Monday (July 7, 2025) telling him the U.S. would impose a 40% tariff from August 1, down from a threatened 44%.

“It’s certainly the first public indication I’ve seen of U.S. acknowledgement of MAH and the junta,” stated Richard Horsey of the International Crisis Group.

Any earlier non-public communications “would almost certainly not have been from Mr. Trump, of course”, he informed AFP.

Min Aung Hlaing seized the chance to reply with a multi-page letter launched in each Burmese and English by the junta info crew Friday (July 11, 2025).

In it, he expressed his “sincere appreciation” for Mr. Trump’s letter and praised the U.S. President’s “strong leadership in guiding your country toward national prosperity”.

He sought to justify the army’s seizure of energy, saying: “Similar to the challenges you encountered during the 2020 election of the United States, Myanmar also experienced major electoral fraud and significant irregularities.”

Both Voice of America and Radio Free Asia – created by the United States with a mission to ship information in international locations with out free media – have shut down their Burmese-language operations for the reason that Mr. Trump administration lower their funding.

Min Aung Hlaing stated he “sincerely appreciated” Mr. Trump’s transfer. The junta is more and more depending on its allies, China and Russia, for financial and army assist.

Min Aung Hlaing requested Mr. Trump to “reconsider easing and lifting the economic sanctions imposed on Myanmar” and sought a tariff of 10-20%.

He thanked Mr. Trump for the “encouraging invitation to continue participating in the extraordinary Economy of the United States, the Number One Market in the World”.

Mr. Trump’s punitive tariff letters have left many countries scrambling to safe last-minute offers with Washington earlier than they arrive into pressure subsequent month.